By JAY TIDWELL/Sports Writer

North Pontotoc’s baseball team might have ended its summer campaign prematurely, but it will carry lots of momentum into the 2011 season.

The Vikings wrapped up an overall positive summer schedule with a 7-3 loss to the Oxford “Blue” team in its opening game in the NEMCABB Championship Round tournament at Tupelo last Wednesday afternoon.

The Vikings were the No. 1 seed from Region 5, after key wins against Mooreville (8-2) and South Pontotoc (8-3) in the regional tournament on June 24 and 25.

“We played well all summer. We had a lot of guys that stepped up and played well,” said North Pontotoc head coach Chad Anthony, who worked with “Orange” and “Blue” high school squads during June.

“It was unfortunate in that one game we didn’t play well.

“They had a good summer, and we’re definitely looking forward to spring,” added Anthony, whose squad finished the 2010 campaign with an 11-14 (5-5 in Region 1-4A) record and narrowly missed the playoffs in its first year in Class 4A.

“We’ve got a good chance to do well next season.”

Against Oxford, a two-RBI hit by junior Brandon Davis pulled the Vikings within 3-2, but the Chargers scored two more in the next inning to edge ahead.

Oxford, the No. 2 seed from Region 3, added two more runs in its last at bat for the final margin.

Kyle Robbins, a junior right-hander, pitched the complete six-inning game for North Pontotoc.

“He threw well, but we didn’t play very good defensively,” Anthony said.



“They took advantage of some of our defensive mistakes.”

Devin Rodgers and Hayden Stegall, both juniors, had multiple hits, and sophomore Caleb Mills had a triple for the Vikings.

“Their pitcher did a good job of keeping us off balance,” Anthony said. “We had a few guys on base, but we couldn’t get a hit.”