[07/06/01] Hampton Calvin came into Thursday’s game against Porters Chapel in a tough spot, but he made everything look easy.

With the game tied 3-3 in the top of the seventh and the bases loaded, Calvin pinch-hit for an injured Nathan Baylot and inherited an 0-2 count. Calvin hit the first pitch he saw through the left side of the infield for a two-run single to help the Vicksburg Juniors (8-7) to a five-run inning and a 7-3 win in the first game of a doubleheader at Porters Chapel Academy.

“When he gets his shot, he really steps in good … I was real proud of him,” Vicksburg coach Daniel Butler said.

Rob Quimby added a two-run double later in the inning for Vicksburg, and John Hendrix improved to 6-0 on the summer by pitching six solid innings.

For Porters Chapel, Wes Massey went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI single, and Aaron Curry added a pair of singles and scored a run. But the Eagles (11-7) committed four errors in the first four innings that led to two Vicksburg runs, then self-destructed in the seventh.

“We beat them so bad the first two times we played them a couple of weeks ago, that I think our players felt like there wasn’t any way they could beat us. We just figured we’re Porters Chapel and they’re the Vicksburg Junior team, and there’s no way they can beat us,’ ” said PCA coach Randy Wright, whose team swept a doubleheader from Vicksburg on June 11. “They came right out here and whipped us. They wanted it more than we did.”

Porters Chapel broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth thanks to two Vicksburg errors that led to an unearned run, but Vicksburg came back strong in the seventh.

Designated hitter Sean Tedder led off with a single to left, Ben Shelton drew a walk and Matt Middleton dropped a perfect bunt down the third-base line to load the bases. The next batter, Sean McGowan, was hit by a pitch on a full count to bring in the tying run and bring up Baylot, the cleanup hitter.

On an 0-1 pitch, however, Baylot tried to bunt and popped it straight back into his jaw. He wasn’t hurt, but the ball did cause a minor cut that forced him to leave the game.

Butler then called for Calvin, who calmly stepped up and hit an 0-2 fastball past diving PCA shortstop T.J. Smith, bringing home Shelton and Middleton and giving Vicksburg a 5-3 lead.

“I was looking for a fastball,” Calvin said. “I was ready to hit.”

After a walk to Chip Lofton, Quimby drove a double to the gap in right to pad the lead to 7-3. PCA got its first two runners on in the bottom of the inning, but Andrew Embry flied out to right and Smith followed by hitting into a game-ending double play.