By JAY TIDWELL/Sports Writer

SPRINGVILLE — Dusty Foster pitched a complete game and seven different batters collected RBIs as South Pontotoc defeated Mooreville 14-6 in Region 5 of the NEMCABB high school baseball tournament last Thursday night.

The Cougars, who hosted one of seven pools in the tournament, fell to North Pontotoc (8-3) and Pontotoc (5-3) on Friday. Their performance was good enough to secure the No. 3 seed from Region 5 heading into this week's Championship Round.

"I thought we played more to our potential," said South Pontotoc head coach Bryan Buckner." Dusty had a good game on the mound, and we played solid defense for the most part and hit the ball. I can't ask for much more."

"I had all my pitches on," said Foster, a sophomore Southpaw, of his Thursday evening performance. "My arm felt good, and my curveball and change up worked pretty good."

Foster received excellent run support, with the Cougars scoring multiple runs in each at bat.

Mooreville utilized four pitchers but was unable to slow down the Cougars, who batted around in the second and third innings.

"This past week, we've had some teams we could compete with. We came out and hit the ball really well against Calhoun City and East Webster (last week)," Buckner said. "I think that built their confidence up. Some of them are realizing, 'When I swing at good pitches, good things happen.'"

Nathan Newell's two-run double started the scoring for South Pontotoc in the first. Ethan Reynolds' double in the second scored Ryne Long and Matt Adams, which led to a five-run frame.

Adams batted 2-for-3 in the lead-off slot and Reynolds hit 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Seth Roye also collected multiple hits, including a single up the middle that scored Devin Butler in the second.



The Cougars added five more runs in the third and two more in the fourth.

Foster struck out six and held the Troopers to one run through three innings. The Lee County squad was able to reach him for a three-run home run in the fourth, but Buckner stayed with his starter, who finished the time-limited match in the fifth.