By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

Vancleave pulled into a tie in the Region 4-5A standings Tuesday night stopping previous league-leader Stone 8-2.
The win was the ninth straight in the region race for the Bulldogs, and pushed Vancleave to 9-1 in the loop and into a deadlock with the Tomcats who dropped to the same 9-1 mark after their first league loss.
In other Region 4-5A play Tuesday night, East Central thumped home-standing Laurel 15-0 and Wayne County nipped visiting Gautier 7-6.
All that leaves the Gators in the third spot in the region race at 4-5 while the Hornets and War Eagles stand tied for the all important fourth spot both at 3-7. Laurel is 0-9, including two forfeit losses to WCHS.

In Vancleave Tuesday night, the Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 2-0 in the first frame thanks to a two-run double from Layton Eder.
The score remained that way until the top of the fifth when Stone cut the deficit in half on an error by the Hornets off the bat of K.J. Galloway. But the Bulldogs broke the game open with a six-run rally in the bottom of the inning to take command of the contest at 8-1.
Eder again provided the big blow with yet another two-run double, while Martin Shaw and Robert Tinson added RBI-singles and Tyler West drove in a run on a ground out.
Eder, a senior catcher, collected a game-high in both hits with three and RBIs with four in the winning effort, while Hunter Parker chipped in a pair of hits for VHS.
Galloway, Willie Breland and Bailey Brogan each posted two hits apiece for Stone, while Conner Tice had a double.

Junior southpaw Hunter Harper went the distance on the mound for the Bulldogs to pick up the win, scattering seven hits while striking out four.
Anderson Hickman took the loss for the Tomcats.
The two teams will meet again in Wiggins Friday night.
In Laurel Tuesday night, East Central scored 15 runs in just four frames to earn the win.
Payton McLean wielded the big stick for the Hornets in Jones County, as he posted game-high totals in both hits with four, including two doubles and a triple, and RBIs with five. Matthew Combs, Nate Trochessett and Christian McFaul each had two hits apiece in the winning 13-hit attack, with McFaul and Fisher Strickler also collecting triples. Combs, McFaul and Trochesstt each drove in two runs apiece for the Hornets as well.

The two teams meet again Thursday night in Hurley.
Brody Long went three innings on the mound to take the win.
Also on Tuesday night, Wayne County slipped by Gautier 7-6.
Frerick Nicholson smacked a two-run home run for the Gators, as both he and Issac Lopez had two hits apiece.
Gregory Johnson took the loss.