NEG’s Mitch Atkins earns Father’s Day win…..

PEARL, Miss. – The Tennessee Smokies snapped a season-long eight game losing skid by taking out the Mississippi Braves, 6-4, Sunday afternoon at Trustmark Park in front of 2,454 fans. The win signifies the end of first half of Southern League play for the Smokies, who will have a 0-0 record when they play Mobile on Tuesday at Smokies Park.

Tennessee scored first with a run in the top of the fourth. Ben Broussard beat out an infield single, then moving to second when Jake Fox was hit by a pitch. Tyler Colvin would move the pair into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Nate Spears then lofted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Broussard to give the Smokies a 1-0 lead.

The Smokies added three more to their lead in the fifth inning. Broussard brought home the first run of the inning with a sacrifice groundout. Fox then drove home two more with a deep double to left-center. Mississippi cut into the Smokies 4-0 lead with a two-run sixth. Greg Creek singled home J.C Holt with two outs for their first score. Quentin Davis forced home the second run with a bases-loaded walk. Nate Spears singled home Colvin in the seventh as Tennessee scored two runs to go back up 6-2.

Mitch Atkins, from Northeast Guilford HS, (5-6) earned the Father’s Day win, going 5.2 innings in his start. He would fan six in the contest with no walks, allowing just four hits and two runs on the day.

*****Courtesy of Carmine Pagano CSCS:Carolina Acceleration Sports Training 3917 High Point Rd.*****