in the juco jungle

In the predictably unpredictable junior college ranks, Itawamba Community College celebrated its rise to No. 4 in the national poll by dropping a doubleheader at home to Holmes CC on Wednesday. ICC, 27-5 overall and 13-1 in the MACJC North going in, fell to Holmes (15-15, 6-8 going in) 4-2 and 9-2 in Fulton. The Indians managed just eight hits and committed six errors on the day. The Bulldogs’ Steven Blanchard, a freshman from Louisiana, got the win in Game 1 to move to 6-2 and homered in Game 2. Also getting swept on Wednesday was the North’s second-place team, Northwest, which fell to East Mississippi (now 14-19, 5-10). Northwest is 9-5 in the division, still 3 games back of ICC. In the South, No. 15 Hinds (26-8 overall) swept Copiah-Lincoln on Wednesday to move into a virtual first-place tie atop the division with Jones County. The Eagles are 10-5, the Bobcats 9-4. East Central is 9-5 after a split with Southwest. JCJC, which was swept by non-MACJC member Meridian (25-17 in NJCAA Division I) on Tuesday, plays Pearl River on Saturday. Stay tuned to this spirited race for postseason spots.