The early season interleague region round-robin play in Class 5A in the “Southern Six” continued last week with some mixed results.
And to a certain extent, the same process will play out again this week.
Several series on the diamond featuring Region 8-5A teams facing foes from Region 7-5A wrapped up late last week as George County met Pearl River Central, Vancleave faced Long Beach, Gautier took on West Harrison and Vancleave and Picayune in that crossover circle.
All of those squads are using home and home series to prepare for their respective region races when league play starts in a few weeks.
In Carriere on Friday night, Pearl River Central nipped visiting George County 1-0 in a pitchers duel. Each team managed just three hits apiece, and Blue Devil junior Isaias drove in the game’s only run. PRC senior Kyan Schlottman had a double in the win.
Blue Devil pitcher Jacob Johnson registered the three-hit complete game shutout, striking out 10 and walking just one. George County’s Preston Mcadory, the second of three Rebel hurlers in the contest, was tagged with the loss. The Rebels won a one-run decision at home Thursday night 5-4 over PRC.
George County plays four games in the annual Battle of the Beach this week, beginning with a contest against Starkville Academy in St. Martin Monday afternoon. Meanwhile, PRC faces Gautier in a home-and-home crossover Class 5A series this week beginning on Tuesday in Gautier.
Gautier is coming off a pair of losses to Region 8-5A opponent West Harrison last week. The Hurricanes blew the Gators away on Tuesday at home 13-3 and then three days later returned home to win an offensive slugfest 15-12.
In the first win, WHHS got a game-high three RBIS from Jack Mann while Hunter Boss and Carlos Pena-Ramirez each drove in a pair of runs apiece. Donald Davis picked up the pitching win.
In the second win over Gautier, Davis recorded a trip and drove in three runs while Ramirez again had two RBIs. Hunter Ross added a double to the winning attack, while Elijah Carriere picked up the pitching win.
The Hurricanes host perennial state power Oxford in the Battle of the Beach Wednesday.
Like George County and PRC, East Central and Long Beach split a close home-and-home series last week. The Hornets won 2-0 in Long Beach on Tuesday but the Bearcats bounced back with a 2-1 win in Hurley on Friday.
In game two, Jake Thomas drove in both Bearcat runs on a pair of hits and Wesley Watson collected three hits including a triple in the win for LBHS. Will Brady also added two hits to the winning attack.
Anthony Tanner’s solo home run accounted for East Central’s lone run. W.P. Bermudez went the distance on the mound for LBHS to pick up the win, allowing four hits and striking out six. Eli Smith took the loss in five frames of work.
In game one on Tuesday, Tanner and Brayson Owenby drove in runs for the Hornets and Haydn Porter had a double. Thomas accounted for two of Long Beach’s three hits.
Southern Miss signee T.J. Dunsford picked up the pitching win with a dominant performance on the hill, going the distance with a three-hit shutout and striking out 16 Bearcat batters. The loss overshadowed a solid performance from LBHS starter Eli Hodges, who also went the distance scattering three hits and striking out eight.
Long Beach faces Hancock in a home-and-home series this week, while East Central does the same with fellow Class 5A foe Picayune.
The Maroon Tide is coming off a two-game split with fellow Class 5A opponent Vanleave last week, as Picayune beat VHS n the road Tuesday night the Bulldogs returned the deal with with a 3-1 road win Friday night.
In game one, Picayune got a double and a pair of RBIs from Kyler King at the plate and he was also the winning pitcher. Cooper Moreaux also had a double and drove in a run. The Maroon Tide rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh to snap 1-1 tie and get the win.
Hunter Parker and Asher Henley each had a double for VHS and Robert Tinson drove in the lone VHS run. Levi Tapp took the loss.
Vancleave won game two in much the same fashion as Picayune did in game one, just one inning later. The game was tied at 1-1 after seven frames before the visiting Bulldogs rallied for two runs in the top of the eighth to pull out the win.
Aidan Tapp had a double and drove in all three VHS runs in the win, while Henley added a pair of hits to the winning cause. Ldevi Tapp picked up the win in relief of Tyler West, who pitched into the seventh stanza.
Morgan Craft drove in Picayune’s only run while Brunson Stockstill had a double for the Maroon Tide. King took the loss with two frames in relief of Brady Robertson.
Vancleave was set to host Hartfield academy Monday night in Battle at the Beach action.
