By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

KILN — Ben Davis proved his father right on Thursday night.

And in the process, put George County on the verge of a Region 4-6A championship.

Davis, a junior infielder and middle son of veteran George County head coach Brandon Davis, led off the ninth inning with a home run to rightfield to break a tight 2-2 tie and give the Rebels a lead they would never relinquish en route to a key 4-2 extra inning win over home-standing Hancock in Region 4-6A play. 

The win kept GCHS tied atop the region race with an impressive 12-2 mark with Picayune, and sets up an equally important game back in Lucedale at Claude Passeau Field on Friday night in game three of the series against the Hawks. Another win by the Rebels, who sit a solid 21-3 overall, will give them the top seed in Region 4-6A for the upcoming Class 6A South State playoffs beginning next week. 

 “We are one win away from our first goal and we feel good about being back at home against an impressive Hancock team,” the elder Davis said, just after the big win. “Our guys have played so well late in the game, which we were not able to do in the recent past. This group is fun to watch.”

It marked the second time in the past three games that George County won a key region outing in extra innings on the road after edging Pascagoula 5-0 in 11 innings on Saturday with a five run rally in the top of the 11th to break open a scoreless contest and pull out the win.

The latest late game success wasn’t quite as explosive but proved just as effective. Davis picked just the right time to smash his second round-tripper of the season as he pulled the trigger on a full count pitch from Hancock reliever Gavin Necaise who was facing his first batter.

“He was not playing very well until the at bat before the home run,” coach Davis said, of his son. “He had made an error and it had crossed my mind to take him out. I’m glad I didn’t.”

Two outs and four batters later, Tripp Lightsey’s RBI-single gave the Rebels an insurance run and ended the scoring.

Rebel top reliever Canyon Reeves then marched back out to the hill for his fifth frame of work, and worked a three up, three down inning to seal the decision and record the pitching win.

Reeves moved to a perfect 6-0 out of the bullpen, scattering two hits and allowing one run while striking out five. He continued the solid work by starter Preston McAdory, who went the first four frames also allowing just two hits and one run while striking out five as well.

“Canyon Reeves has had a phenomenal year in relief, and has come up in clutch situations time after time and came through,” the elder Davis added.

Reeves also had a pair of hits at the plate in the win, as did Lightsey and Jacob Eubanks. Lightsey and Blaine Green each had a double apiece for the Rebels. Gage Reeves had an RBI-single and Alex Wade a run-scoring sacrifice fly to account for the other two GCHS runs.

Hancock got an RBI-single from versatile senior standout Jeffery Hopgood and Matthew Cuevas belted a run-scoring double for its two runs. Necaise also had a double for the Hawks.

Hancock starting pitcher Chace Brown deserved a better fate. He turned in an impressive eight inning worksheet allowing nine hits and striking out four while walking two and gave his team every chance to take the win. Necaise took the loss in relief.

George County will win a head-to-head tiebreaker over Picayune due to taking two of three games over the Maroon Tide a few weeks back. Picayune kept pace with the Rebels knocking off Long Beach 9-0 Thursday night.

Brady Robertson had two hits, including a double, for the Maroon Tide and he drove in a game-high three runs. Tanner Busby went six shutout stanzas on the mound to earn the win.