Wednesday was a light night of action for “Southern Six” squads in the annual Battle at the Beach, as only a trio of area teams were on the baseball diamond.
Pascagoula posted a 12-0 thumping of visiting West Point at Ingalls Field, while home-standing West Harrison got shutout by perennial state power Oxford 6-0. Also, visiting Mountain Brook (Ala.) knocked off St. Martin 14-2.
The Hurricanes managed just one-hit in the loss to the Chargers, as Hunter Ross picked up a single. Donald Davis took the loss on the mound for West Harrison.
The Hurricanes are back in action at home Thursday in battle in the Beach play hosting Walker (La.) at 7 p.m. just after Denham Springs (La.) faces Center Hill High.
West Harrison then hosts Liberty Magnet (La.) on Friday at 5 p.m., before finishing out play in the Battle of the Beach Saturday morning at MGM Park at 10:30 a.m., meeting Warren Central.
Mountain Brook took a commanding 13-0 lead in the top of the second inning against St. Martin Tuesday night and coasted to the win in a game that ended after four frames.. The Yellow Jackets got just two hits in the contest, including a run-scoring double by Garrett Dobson
St. Martin hosts action for the fourth straight day in the Battle of the Beach Thursday as the Yellow Jakets face visiting McGill-Toolen of Mobile, Ala. The Yellow Jackets will then hosts again on Friday facing Smiths Station (Ala.).
Just like St. Martin, Ingalls Field in Pascagoula has been a beehive of activity in Battle at the Beach action this week. The Panthers played their third straight home game in as many days Wednesday night in their four-inning win over the Green Wave.
Pascagoula dominated offensively and defensively on its way to the 12-0 shutout as senior Angel Sollivan shined on the mound, He threw the complete game-shortened stint as he tallied six strikeouts while only allowing one hit. The pitcher also contributed on offense going two for three at the plate with a double and an RBI single.
The Panthers were dialed in on offense bringing in 12 runs on 12 hits. After jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first and adding a run in the second stanza as well. The quick start seemed to ignite the Panthers and PHS racked up their final seven runs in the bottom of the third inning. Senior Keilon Parnell, a Mississippi State signee, highlighted this inning with a grand slam deposited over the right-field fence.
“It was a game where we came out [and] we jumped on them early,” Pascagoula veteran head coach, Richie Tillman said. “Angel Sollivan pitched extremely well. I thought it was a very complete game for us. I’m glad that we bounced back from a tough loss Tuesday.”
PHS will look to carry this momentum into their next match-up against the Mize Bulldogs on Thursday night at home. It will be Military Appreciation Day at Ingalls Field for that game.
(228Sports contributing writer Sam King contributed to this report)
