Baseball: Diamond Eagles aim for win no. 2 today

The Eagles (1-2), who beat Cedar Shoals 5-2 last Wednesday, travel to face the Bulldogs today (Monday) at 5:55 p.m.

George Walton (4-1) reached the Class A Sweet 16 last year and is riding a four-game winning streak this spring.

Meanwhile, the Eagles look to start a streak of their own.

Behind a quality start from pitcher Robert McKay and a big hit from Josh Valles, East Jackson gave coach Matt Pruitt his first head coaching victory with last Wednesday’s win over Cedar Shoals.

McKay pitched six innings, surrendering five hits and one run while striking out four for the visiting Eagles.

“He might have cruised to a complete-game victory, but we gave away a couple of outs and his pitch count got too high for us to let him finish,” Pruitt said.

Valles put East Jackson ahead for good with a two-run double in the top of the fifth. He reached base in three of his four plate appearances as he was also walked and hit by a pitch.

Also leading East Jackson offensively was Jake Grindle, whose sac-fly RBI in the fourth inning got the Eagles on the scoreboard. He added an RBI single the seventh inning. Grindle also pitched the seventh inning to close out the victory for East Jackson.