By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

East Central saved its best for last.
Thankfully.
The Hornets kept alive a 14-year playoff streak by sweeping Wayne County to finish up Region 4-5A play and secure the third seed in the league. Two-time and defending Class 5A state champion East Central won its last six games in the region race to make it back to the postseason when just two weeks ago its playoffs hopes were in danger.
The Hornets clinched a playoff berth Friday night at home with a hard-fought 12-10 win over the War Eagles rallying for four runs in the bottom of the sixth stanza to pull out the win.
Anthony Tanner had three hits, including a home run, and he drove in two runs for the Hornets while Matthew Combs added a pair of hits including a double and also drove in two runs in the winning effort. Jaxon Cripps posted a pair of doubles for the Hornets.
Christian McFaul, the fifth of five Hornet hurlers, picked up the pitching win.

East Central followed that up with a solid 12-3 road win in Waynesboro Saturday afternoon to close out the regular season above the .500 level in the region race at 8-7. The Hornets stood 2-7 after the first three weeks of league play.
Nate Trochessett wielded the big stick on the day for ECHS, as he drove in a season-high five RBIs on two hits including a two run home run. Payton McLean and Cripps each shared game-high hit honors with three apiece, and Cripps drove in a pair of runs also.
Pacey Baria picked up the pitching win.
Vancleave finished first in Region 4-5A, having clinched the league title over a week ago. Stone finished as the second seed, but was involved in the final seeding up until the final day of play Saturday.

Gautier traveled to Wiggins and pulled out a huge 15-4 in win over the Tomcats in just five frames to secure the fourth and final seed in the playoff chase. It marks the first-ever playoff appearance for the Gators in the 28-year history of the baseball program.
Gautier needed the win to make the playoffs or else Wayne County would have earned the final spot in Region 4-5A.
Gregory Johnson went the distance on the hill to pick up the win as the Gators exploded for six runs in the fourth frame and seven more in the fifth to break open a 2-2 tie and keep their season alive.
Frederick Nicholson smashed a three run home run for Gautier, while Enrique Flores had two hits and drove in two runs and Johnson helped himself at the plate with a pair of hits and a pair of RBIS also.
Willie Breland hit a home run for Stone.
Vancleave will face North Pike to open the Class 4A South State playoffs this week and Stone will host Brookhaven. East Central will travel to Florence to begin the defense of its back-to-back state titles, while Gautier heads to Ellisville to face South Jones for its initial appearance ever in the state playoffs.