East Central Community College’s baseball team improved to 20-6 on the 2010 campaign following a doubleheader sweep of Mississippi Delta Community College Wednesday in Moorhead.

The Diamond Warriors, who are ranked tenth in the latest NJCAA Division II poll, held on for a 5-2 decision in the opener and posted a 5-1 victory in the second contest. 

Quin Stokes of Carthage and Andre Yates of Grenada each blasted home runs and collected two RBIs a piece in the first game to lead the EC offense. Stokes also produced a single.

 Other sluggers were Vincent Kortbawi, a product of Hale County (Ala.) High School, two singles; and Donnie Tabb of Neshoba Central, Richie Long of Carthage, Ricardo Velez, of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, and Ernie Triplett of Louisville, singles each. Triplett was also credited with an RBI.

Southpaw Pervis Mann of Carthage went the distance in earning the victory on the mound.  Mann allowed just two earned runs on six hits through nine innings. He also fanned seven batters and walked one.

In the second game, Kortbawi was the top slugger with three singles. Also recording multiple hits were Yates, Stokes and Long, who each belted two singles. Darmaal Moore of Stone County contributed a double and Tabb had a single. Stokes led in RBIs with two.

Right-hander Cal Cossich of Ocean Springs got the win, allowing just one run on one hit through six innings. He also fanned three batters and walked one. Right-hander Joel McKee of Neshoba Central pitched the final inning in relief and gave up two hits.  

The Diamond Warriors battle MACJC South Division opponent Southwest Mississippi Community College Saturday, March 27, in doubleheader action getting under way at 1 p.m. at the Clark/Gay Baseball Complex in Decatur. Two seven-inning matchups are scheduled.

The ECCC baseball team is led by head coach Neal Holliman and assistants Michael Avalon and Hunter Vick.