By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
PASCAGOULA — George County remained in a tie atop Region 4-6A Tuesday night, but the crowd thinned a bit.
The Rebels traveled to Pascagoula and knocked off the home-standing Panthers 4-1 to begin a three game league series. The win moves George County to 8-2 in the region race and drops PHS to 3-7 in the loop.
The Rebels remain tied with Picayune atop the league standings, after the Maroon Tide beat Hancock 9-5. That loss dropped the Hawks out of what was a three-way tie atop the region race. entering the week.
After a bit of a bump in the road last week against the Maroon Tide, George County ace starting pitcher Andrew Nielsen dominated the Panthers through six stanzas striking out six and scattering just two hits.
“Andrew Nielsen did a great job on the mound as always,” veteran GCHS head coach Brandon Davis said.
His teammates would give him all the support he needed with a two out, three run uprising in the second inning. Ben Davis had the big blow in the rally with a two-run triple, then Blaine Green followed that up with an RBI-single to give the Rebels a lead they would never relinquish.
Alex Wade then delivered a timely run-scoring sacrifice fly in the third frame to make it 4-0.
“Ben and Blane both had two out RBIs which it takes to win in district and playoff games,” Davis added. “Alex Wade executed on the slash with a runner at third base with less than two outs.”
Pascagoula picked up its only run of the night against Nielsen in the bottom of the fifth, when J.J. Trinidad drove in a run with a single to complete the scoring.
Nielsen picked up the win, with some relief help from Canyon Reeves who came on in the seventh and worked a clean inning to earn a save.
Terry Lee started on the hill for the Panthers and matched Nielsen’s workload with six stanzas of action in taking the loss. He allowed five hits and struck out six.
Green had a game-high two hits for the rebels in the game-winning attack.
The two tames will face off again Friday night at Claude Passeau Field in Lucedale in game two of the series.
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