By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PICAYUNE — Picayune continued its strong start in Region 4-6A play Tuesday night.
The Maroon Tide overcame an early 4-0 deficit with six unanswered runs to slip past visiting George County 6-5 at Kent Kirkland Field. The win pushes Picayune to a perfect 7-0 in the region race and head coach Evan Nichelson’s squad remained one game ahead of Hancock and is now two games in front of the Rebels in the league standings.

“The guys battled after giving up a four spot in the first,” Nichelson said. “That’s a good team in the other dugout and they took advantage of some mistakes we made early. I’m proud of the fight in our guys.”
The Rebels led off the game with three straight singles, including a run-scoring one from Gage Reeves.
Then, with two outs, a grounder of the bat off Alex Wade was misplayed into a two-run fielding error and then a Picayune throwing error scored another run to give the Rebels that aforementioned 4-0 lead in the first frame.
But it was the home team’s turn to plate a quartet in the bottom of the second stanza and tie the game up, with a little help from their opponent as well. Landon Watts put a ball in play and a run scored on an error to get the Maroon Tide rolling, while Brunson Stockstill drew a bases loaded walk to make it 4-2. Parker Helton then drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, and Picayune completed the comeback on a balk that scored a run.
Picayune took the lead for good in the fifth frame, as Morgan Craft posted an RBI-single to make it 5-4 and Cooper Moreaux drove in a run on a fielders choice to make it 6-4.

“We were able to grind some at bats out and apply pressure to get back into the game,” Nichelson added. “That’s our goal each game, play hard every pitch and grind and see where we are when the dust settles in the end.”
The Rebels managed a run in the top of the seventh on an RBI-double by Canyon Reeves, but that would end the scoring.
Watts threw almost five innings of relief to pick up the win. Andrew Nielsen took the loss for the Rebels.
Craft paced Picayune at the plate with two hits, including a double.
Ben Davis had two hits for George County, including a double. Canyon Reeves had a double as well for the Rebels.
The two teams are set to face off in game two of the series Friday night at Claude Passeau Field in Lucedale.