By Stan Caldwell/Sports Writer

HATTIESBURG — Both teams knew what was at stake before the first pitch Friday night at Smokie Harrington Park.

For visiting Pearl River Central, a win would wrap up the Region 3-6A championship back at the site where the Blue Devils had suffered a 3-2 defeat three days earlier.

For Hattiesburg, which saw itself locked into the No. 3 seed in the playoffs after Thursday’s 8-3 loss at Carriere, it was an opportunity to play spoiler and keep PRC from clinching the region title on their field.

When it was all over, it was the visiting Blue Devils who did in fact celebrate the region championship on the Tigers’ home turf, powering through a difficult week off the field and scrappy opponent on the field for a 3-2 triumph.

The victory clinched the best-of-three game series, as PRC improved to 23-5 overall and 10-2 in region. Hattiesburg dropped to 18-7 and 7-5.

“Coach (Brent) Barham always has Hattiesburg ready,” said PRC acting coach Jarred Rogers. “Man, they’re electric and they’re a sound baseball team in every facet. It’s tough coming in here; it’s playoff-caliber baseball, no doubt. So, big win for us.”

Rogers was serving as acting head coach in place of longtime coach Neil Walther, who was relieved of his duties earlier this week.

Truthfully, the Blue Devils were in a bit of a funk for the first half of the game against the Tigers, who played relaxed like a team that had nothing to lose.

“We didn’t play our best and we still almost beat them,” said HHS senior T.K. Davis, a right-hander who started Friday’s contest. “They’re a really good team, but I honestly think we’re better.”

Davis, who is headed for Southwest Mississippi Community College, had PRC on its heels the first two times through the batting order, mixing a sweeping curve with an 85 mph-plus fastball out of a sidearm throwing motion.

“For lefties, it runs away from us and for the righties, it runs into them,” said PRC senior Connor Dyess. “For the lefties, it’s a little more difficult. You’ve got to keep your direction and go that way with it.”

Hattiesburg jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning off Dyess, a right-hander who was 6-0 coming into the region finale. 

With one out, junior Cam Craft doubled just inside the bag at first base, then took third when a pickoff attempt went badly awry. 

Dyess got a strikeout for the second out, but sophomore Chauncey Parhm stroked a single up the middle to drive in a run and a wild pitch scored the other run in the inning.

The Tigers could have had – maybe should have had – more runs, but they let crucial opportunities come up dry.

Hattiesburg left runners at second and third in the third and fourth inning, left the bases loaded in the fifth and got the go-ahead run on base in the seventh. 

The Tigers also ran themselves out of a run in the third, when Joseph Polk Jr. led off by reaching on an infield error, but was thrown out trying to steal second. Seconds later, junior Ra’marion Wilson smoked a triple into the gap in right-centerfield.

Dyess made some big pitches when he put runners on base, but it was tougher than usual, and when the Tigers got a single and a hit batter to open the bottom of the fourth, Rogers went to sophomore Roman Mitchell in relief.

“We were pretty set that we were going to rely on the bullpen tonight,” said Dyess. “They were the ones who got it done for us tonight.”

Mitchell did indeed get the job done. With nobody out, and runners at second and third, Mitchell got two strikeouts and a groundout to keep the Tigers at bay.

The Blue Devils had opportunities of their own and failed to produce. In the second, PRC loaded the bases with two hit batters and a walk, but Davis was able to strikeout the side. The Devils got a runner to third in the third, but were unable to score.

But Pearl River Central finally broke the ice with Dyess making up for a sub-par performance on the mound to lift his team at the plate.

“I didn’t pitch my best, and after giving up those two runs, the only thing running through my mind was, ‘I gotta get those runs back,’” said Dyess. “I was just looking to find the fastball, attack the fastball and get the job done.”

After a leadoff walk to open the fifth inning, Davis got two quick groundouts, but Dyess took a 1-0 fastball to the wall in left-centerfield for an opposite-field triple and the first run of the game for PRC.

“Connor Dyess is our spark,” said Rogers. “He’s the ultimate player for us, the one we want the younger kids to emulate. His leadership is unmatched. We’re glad he’s on our team.”

Davis was done not long after that, after surrendering two walks to load the bases. Senior left-hander David Wells came on in relief, and his first pitch allowed Dyess to score the tying run when the ball hit the dirt and zipped to the backstop.

A walk loaded the bases, but Walls got a strikeout to leave the bases loaded without further damage. Davis went 4 2-3 innings, allowed two hits, struck out six, walked five and hit four.

The Blue Devils took the lead in the top of the sixth off Walls (4-3). Junior Garrett Ouder drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second. A wild pitch put Ouder on third, and he trotted home on a single by John Morreale. 

Sophomore right-hander Andrew Jordan came on to put the fire out and keep it a one-run game.

After cruising through the fifth, Mitchell (4-1) ran into trouble in the sixth. Craft led off by reaching on an infield error, but Mitchell came back to get two outs. However, he then issued a walk and hit a batter to load the bases.

A groundout to third, however, kept the Tigers off the scoreboard, and senior Landon Lamartina came out of the bullpen to pitch the seventh. 

With two outs, Lamartine issued a walk and hit a batter, but Morreale made a good play in leftfield on a sinking line drive off the bat of junior De’Aveon Johnson for the final out of the game.

“We told the kids to continue what you’re doing,” said Rogers. “This program is a blue-collar program that has been built over the years. We just said to keep playing the way we play in Carriere, Mississippi.”

PRC has a home-and-home series against South Jones next week, Tuesday at Ellisville and Friday at Carriere. Hattiesburg completes its regular season Tuesday night at North Forrest.