SUFFOLK
One year after finishing in sixth place of eight teams in the King’s Fork Spring Break Tournament , the Southampton baseball team advanced to the championship round on Thursday evening.

Wins over King’s Fork, 8-3, and Churchland, 2-1, set up a matchup with defending champion Oscar Smith, but the Region 6A Tigers were too powerful for the 3A Indians.

Much like last year’s contest, a 10-0 Oscar Smith win, the Tigers jumped out to an early lead on Southampton pitcher Wesley Pierce. According to coach Wes Griffith, the 12-1 loss was not solely on the junior, who threw the first perfect game in school history just two weeks ago.

“[We] struggled offensively and defensively while trying to compete with the Tigers,” he said.

The effort was quite the opposite in the team’s two victories, as the Indians’ bats and gloves were on display. Freshman Jesse Martin and junior Justin Graham were the stars of the week, driving in two runs and throwing a complete game, respectively, in the win over Churchland.

Southampton traveled to Emporia on Tuesday night to take on the Greensville County Eagles, but results were not available at this paper’s deadline. The Indians return home to host to defending TriRivers District champion Windsor on Thursday, as they look to avenge an early-season loss last season which snapped Southampton’s five-game winning streak over the Dukes. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.