Ronald Sims
Mississippi Scouting Director

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Gulfport vs Tupelo

Gulfport and Tupelo are two evenly matched baseball teams having split the first two games in extra-innings in the class 6A best-of-three championship finals. The Tupelo Golden Wave pulled out a 2-1 victory over the Admirals in game one in eight innings. Gulfport came back and walked off with a 4-3 win over Tupelo in the bottom of the ninth to even the series.

But Tupelo would top Gulfport in game three, 3-0 claiming the class 6A state championship with a solid performance on the mound by left-hander Josh Smith. Tupelo would only record two hits accounting for all three runs in the game. South Sanders (Tupelo) ripped a RBI double to left field to score Charlie Greer. In the third, Greer scores two runs with a single to right field.

Gulfport would have their opportunity in the fourth when Gabe Lacy led off with a single to left field and Blake Johnson reaches safely, walking. The Admirals would successfully get the runners into scoring position with a bunt but would fail to score, as the next two hitters go down striking out.

Josh Smith threw all seven innings for Tupelo, holding Gulfport scoreless on four hits while striking out five and walking one. The strong performance on the mound would propel Tupelo to a 3-0 victory and a class 6A title.

Pearl River Central vs Oxford

After the Pearl River Central Blue Devils’ claim an 8-4 victory in game one of the 5A state championship, the Oxford Chargers would roll to a 9-2 victory in game two, forcing a decisive game three matchup. The Blue Devil’s use a big fourth inning in game three to drive themselves to a 7-3 victory and the 5A state championship title.

Oxford would start game three with a leadoff triple by Sam Bianco in the bottom of the first inning. S. Bianco would then score, courtesy of a Carson Stinnett sacrifice fly. Drew Bianco would follow with a triple of his own, and score a run as a result of a RBI single from Ben Bianco. With the strong offensive first inning the Oxford Chargers would take an early 2-0 lead.

Down 2-1 heading to the top of the fourth, the Blue Devils would come out and score five runs on four hits, highlighted by a two-run double by Zach Roussell. Austin Izzio would also score a run for the Blue Devils with a single, giving Pearl River Central a 4-2 advantage and the first lead of the contest.

Reed Markel takes the loss for the Chargers on the mound but was strongly supported by the Bianco brothers. Louisville signee, Ben Bianco, LSU recruit, Drew Bianco, and Sam Bianco would combine and go 5-for-10 on the day while driving in two runs.

Cade Lee got the win on the mound for the Blue Devils. Lee would throw six and two-thirds inning, giving up seven hits while allowing three earned runs, walking one and striking out five.

Though Oxford scores another run in the bottom of the fifth inning courtesy of a single by Drew Bianco, scoring Sam Bianco, the Pearl River Central Blue Devils' would be too much as they claim a 7-3 victory and take home the class 5A state title.

West Lauderdale vs Corinth

After falling in game one to the Corinth Warriors 5-3, the West Lauderdale Knights would prove to be inspired as they take an 11-7 victory in game two of the series and force a game three. West Lauderdale would not lose their motivation as they come out in game three and pull out a close 3-2 victory, taking home the 4A state title.

The Corinth Warriors would come out swinging in the first inning, loading the bases through the first five hitters. Baylor Frazier would come through with a RBI single to shallow right field, scoring two runs and giving Corinth an early 2-0 advantage.

West Lauderdale would respond in the third inning, evening the score with a RBI double by Cole Hurst and a throwing error by the Warrior defense. Although both teams would have their opportunities to score the go-ahead run, the game would remain tied entering the seventh inning. John Briggs would tag up at third, on a sacrifice fly, scoring and giving West Lauderdale a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning.

West Lauderdale would come out in the seventh with a 3-2 lead and get three quick outs. Allowing the Knights to secure their 14th state title with the 2017 4A state championship crown.

 

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