goin’ jukin’

They’re fit to be tied in the MACJC races. In the North Division, Holmes Community College and Northwest are knotted at the top with 8-2 records, trailed by Itawamba — which plays both of the leaders this week — at 7-3. In the South, Jones County and Mississippi Gulf Coast share first at 7-3, a game up on Pearl River (6-4). Northwest maintained a share of first by sweeping Northeast on Saturday behind the pitching of Tarus Hervey and Chris Casto. It was the third straight division sweep for the Rangers. Holmes, which owns two wins over Northwest, swept Mississippi Delta on Saturday; Rafiel Johnson had a pair of hits to back Chris Hutchinson’s pitching in a 12-2 romp in the opener, and Johnson came back in Game 2 to throw a complete game in a 3-2 win. Northwest is at ICC today, and Holmes hosts the Indians on Thursday. In the South, Jones and Gulf Coast split a doubleheader on Saturday to remain tied. JCJC’s Vito Perna (now 5-0) threw a five-hitter and hit a three-run homer in a 10-1 win. Gulf Coast bounced back to take Game 2 3-2 as Zach DeSoto knocked in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning. Jones hosts Hinds today, and Gulf Coast welcomes Southwest.
P.S. Former Northeast CC star Phillip Chapman, a Clinton native, went 4-for-5 and finished a single shy of the cycle in Memphis’ 13-5 win over Alcorn State on Sunday. Chapman, a senior catcher at Memphis, hit two homers and drove in four runs.