By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PICAYUNE — By the end of this season, Picayune hopes to end up exactly where Gulfport was to wrap up last year.
So, a win by the Maroon Tide over the Admirals early in each’s current campaign could certainly be considered a step in that direction.
Picayune slipped past visiting Gulfport 6-5 Monday night at Kent Kirkland Field. The win moved the Maroon Tide to 2-1 after one week of play, while the Admirals dropped to an even 1-1 after splitting a pair of games to begin the season over the past four days.

Gulfport played for the Class 6A state championship last season, falling to Lewisburg in the title round. Picayune moved up to Class 6A for the first time ever this year after expansion by The Mississippi High School Association to seven classifications that pushed the Admirals up to the new Class 7A.
Picayune got off to a quick start plating three runs in the first inning, and after falling behind by a run, adding yet another three spot in the third frame and holding on for the win.
Morgan Craft’s RBI-single scored Kyler King to get the the ball rolling for the Maroon Tide, and Landon Watts followed that with a run-scoring single to right to make it 2-0. Brady Robertson, who reached base on a single prior to Watts’ hit, then made it 3-0 as he also came around to score on the hit by Watts after a throwing error by the Admirals.

It was then Gulfport’s time to shine. The Admirals plated a run in the second stanza on an RBI-single from Elijia Barney, then followed that with a three spot in the top of the third to take a brief 4-3 lead.
Ethan Suroweic drove in a run on a fielders choice for the Admirals, and then Nico Williams did the same on a sacrifice fly that knotted the game up. Gulfport took its first and what proved to be only lead of the game after the next batter Davis Ormes singled home Suroweic.
The home team had had enough at that point. The Maroon Tide bounced right back with their second three run inning of the game, on a two-run single by Parker Helton and Picayune also scored a run off a Gulfport error.

The Admirals added a run in the top of the seventh after pinch-hitter Javin Childres reached on an error and then scored on a passed ball cutting the deficit to a run at 6-5, but the rally would end there.
Tanner Busby picked up his second win in two starts this season, throwing four frames and allowing as many runs while striking out seven. Colt Robertson and Watts finished up, with Watts picking up a save.
King led the winning offensive attack with the offense with two hits.
Joel Smith had a pair of hits to guide the Gulfport offense.

Tuesday night Picayune travels to the Gulf Coast for the second time in five days, heading to Gautier to face the Gators. Gulfport is off until Friday when the Admirals host Kelly Catholic from Sulphur, La.
In other action in the Southern Six on Monday night, Biloxi beat visiting Germantown 11-9.