Daily Journal reports

RAYMOND - Itawamba Community College is one win away from its first state title since 2003 after a 16-4 victory on Friday against Holmes.

Fourth-ranked ICC (42-14) will play Friday night's Hinds-Holmes winner at 1 p.m. today for the state title. An ICC loss would force a second "if necessary" game, also today.

Itawamba outscored Holmes 13-1 in the final three inning.

The game was ended after eight innings due to the run rule after ICC scored seven runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth - after forcing Holmes to strand the bases loaded in the sixth when reliever B.J. Johnson got Holmes to strike out, pop out and ground out.

Mooreville's Josh Chism led the Indians' 16-hit attack with a 5-for-5 day. Ladarrius Cole (Nettleton) was 3-for-5 with five runs scored.

Tupelo's Joseph Koon (8-2) pitched into the sixth inning to improved to 8-2. ICC limited Holmes to four hits; the Bulldogs committed five errors.

n Linescore, Page 2BGreg Mcilvain 5/8/09 ITAWAMBA 16, HOLMES 4

Itawamba 210 002 74 - 16 16 2

Holmes 000 120 10 - 4 4 5

WP: Joseph Koon (8-2). LP: Brandon McHenry (6-3).

Multiple hits: (I) Josh Chism 5, Ladarrius Cole 3, Justin Bryant, Wesley McCullough. (H) Brian Higbee. 2B: (I) McCullough. (H) Ben Hodge. HR: (I) Sloan.