FLOWOOD - Louis Coleman dominated opponents all during the regular season, but what he did in his first postseason game left his coach searching for superlatives.
"I am not sure what to say, except that was awesome," said Pillow Academy coach Tommy Nester, after watching his senior ace hurl a complete-game, 11-inning shutout.
Coleman allowed just three hits while striking out 15 and walking one as the Mustangs defeated Jackson Prep 1-0 here Tuesday night in the first round of the State AAA Division I playoffs.
The second game of the best-of-three series is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at Pillow (19-3). If needed, the third game will be at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
It was the eighth complete in eight starts for Coleman, who is 9-0 on the mound. He threw 130 pitches, 90 of which went for strikes.
"It was my No. 1 outing of the year. My arm wasn't getting that tired, but my body was. The low pitch count helped me stay strong that deep into the game," said the Meridian Community College signee.
Prep senior Kyle Moor (8-3) was almost as effective, keeping the PA batters off balance with a tough slider. He worked all 11 innings - giving up an unearned run on four hits while striking out 12 and walking two. He finished with 154 pitches.
Prep (20-7) had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the 10th, when the home team had runners at first and third with one out. Wallace McLaurin got a one-out single and then moved to third base when Christian Barnes reached first base on a throwing error by shortstop Ryan Burt. With the next batter, Daniel Luter, facing a 1-2 count, he struck out trying to bunt on a suicide squeeze play, and McLaurin was tagged out at home by senior catcher Ryan Taylor.
In the top of the 11th, the Mustangs took advantage of Prep's only two errors of the game. Pinch-hitter Martin Tribble reached on an error but was put out at second on a fielder's choice by sophomore John Craig Patterson.
After Patterson stole second base, he moved to third when senior Matt Hargett reached on a fielding error by shortstop Doug Schnider. Burt, a senior, then ripped a sacrifice fly to the wall in left-center field to bring in Patterson.
"It was great to see Burt drive in the winning run after making that error. That's what happens when you keep your head up and keep fighting," Nester said. "They were unable to take advantage of our mistake, and we were able to capitalize on their only two errors."
Coleman, looking as strong as he did in the early innings, then sealed the deal in the bottom of the 11th as he struck out the first two batters he faced and got the third to fly out.
Taylor, a Mississippi Delta Community College signee, had two of the Mustangs' four hits, including a double. Patterson had the other two hits.
Jackson Academy beat Parklane 6-3 on the other side of the State AAA Division I playoffs.
