Some of Nick Sims’ teammates were busy running circle-like patterns in left field.
It was understandable why some of the members of the New Hope High School baseball team would be celebrating a dramatic victory in Game 1 of the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A North State championship series.
Sims was having none of it.
The senior shortstop/closer regrouped after walking three and allowing a single in the top of the seventh to record three quick outs and lead New Hope to a 9-8 victory against Kosciusko on Thursday night at Trojan Field.
The victory moves New Hope (28-5) one win away from a trip to the state championship series. New Hope will get its first chance to realize that goal at 7 tonight in Kosciusko. If needed, the teams will play at 1 p.m. Saturday to determine which teams advances to Trustmark Park in Pearl.
“You go out there, it’s 9-7 at that point, and I’m asking Nick, ‘Do you have the faith to do this? If not, let me get somebody else,’ ” Boyd said. “He’s my guy to finish the game. I don’t want to pull him out, but he’s telling me he doesn’t have it right there, I’m going to get somebody.
“He told me, ‘Coach, I’m about to finish it,’ looked me right in the eye and said that. He’s a senior. He’s been closing games for us all year, and that’s the guy I wanted on the mound.”
The only runner Sims allowed after his talk with Boyd was via intentional walk. The Trojans opted for the walk to load the bases and set up the game-winning out at any base. Before that, Sims forced a comebacker, checked the runner at third who represented the tying run, and retired the batter at first.
Sims struck out the final batter.
“I knew I had it. You just have to focus and throw your game,” Sims said.
The only thing Sims needed to do to close the game was find the strike zone. He said he shortened up his delivery a little bit and took some velocity off.
“Nick has got good stuff. That’s his fifth save, I think, on the year,” Boyd said. “If he’s in the strike zone, he’s really tough to hit.”
When Sims recorded the final out, there was no elation or relief on his face. A glare into the Kosciusko dugout was followed by an angry walk to left field while most of his teammates were celebrating. Some came to wrap an arm around him. A few pointed to the scoreboard to offer proof he had just sealed the win. But Sims thrust their arms off him in disgust.
Eventually, though, Sims accepted a few hugs. In Boyd’s post-game talk with the team, Sims positioned at the back of the crowd, there was a moment where it seemed Boyd was talking to Sims in a light-hearted manner that inspired a few laughs around him.
“Not that we needed an eye-opener,” Boyd said. “We know how good a team they are, but we’re going to have to be really focused going into (today), going into their place with their backs against the wall.
Kosciusko rallied from a four-run deficit in the final inning to beat Amory in the previous round.
The extra run support Sims needed came largely from double play combo partner, second baseman Drew Pounders. After two walks, a hit batsman and an RBI single by junior Tyler Murphy extended the lead to 3-1, Pounders hit a grand slam that soared well above the 325-foot marker in right-center field.
“We’ve got seven, maybe eight guys that have that capability, at any time, to put a ball out,” Boyd said.
In the first inning, Sims started things with a first-pitch single. Murphy was hit by a pitch and Pounders followed with a first-pitch bunt single. First baseman Bryce Braddock’s sacrifice fly and starting pitcher Ryan Burt’s RBI groundout made it 2-0.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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