East Central and Picayune sit atop their respective region standings in Class 5A action in the “Southern Six” after each picked up wins on Tuesday night.
In Region 8-5A, the home-standing Hornets slipped past Gautier 6-4 to move to 3-1 in league play. The Gators dropped to 1-2 with the loss.
Logan Terry had three hits, including a run-scoring double, to pace ECHS at the plate while Carson Ryder also had three hits and drove in a run as well. Andrew Marble also added an RBI-double in the win, while Anthony Tanner also drove in a run.
Ole Miss signee Kaden Irving had a pair of hits, including a solo home run, for Gautier, while Gavin Pound tallied a two-run single and Christopher Nelson collected a pair of hits also.
Southern Miss signee T.J. Dunsford picked up the win for the Hornets with six innings of work, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out eight and walking three. Gregory Johnson took the loss for Gautier.
The two teams meet again Thursday night in Gautier and again Friday night back in Hurley.
In other Region 8-5A play Tuesday, visiting Vancleave nipped George County 1-0. The Bulldogs pulled even at 2-2 in the region race with the win, while the Rebels dropped to 1-2.
The game was scoreless through five, before Vancleave’s Hunter Parker delivered a run-scoring single to plate the game’s lone run. That was one of only two hits that the Bulldogs managed off of GCHS starter Brody Howell.
But Parker was just as good on the mound for VHS, as he scattered just three Rebelsingles in a complete game shutout performance to earn the win striking out 11 and walking two. Howell, the tough-luck loser, also went the distance allowing just the two hits while striking out nine and walking only one.
The two teams meet again in Vancleave on Thursday night and again back in Lucedale at 11 a.m., Friday morning.
Meanwhile, in Picaynue Tuesday night, the homestanding Maroon Tide overcame a 6-3 seventh stanza deficit by plating three runs in the bottom of the frame to tie the game up and then win it with a solo run in the bottom of the eighth 7-6.
The win over its arch-rival moved Picayune into sole possession of first place in Region 7-5A with a perfect 5-0 mark and dropped the Blue Devils into the second spot at 4-1.
The same two teams will face off in Carriere Thursday night.
