By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

LUCEDALE — George County pitcher Canyon Reeves possesses one of the highest win totals in the “Southern Six” this season as his Rebels head toward the Class 6A state championship next week.

And despite his impressive 7-0 mark, the side-winding junior hurler has yet to start a game so far this season.

Reeves has served as the top reliever for the Rebels this season, and not only has he picked up those seven wins on the mound but he has earned six saves as well.

“I’ve never coached anyone who did that,” Veteran George County head coach Brandon Davis said Saturday. 

Davis is in his 13th season leading his alma mater and has served as a head coach in South Mississippi for the past two decades, so he’s seen his fair share of pitchers and pitching styles.

“He is a competitor for sure,” Davis added. “He doesn’t want anyone to touch first base and he believes he can prevent that. He throws mid 80’s from the side arm slot a lot. He’s been extremely effective for us this season.”

Reeves has seen action so far in five of George County’s eight playoff games and picked up three saves in the six Rebel wins. He closed the regular season with three wins and three saves as George County won its final 10 games in Region 4-6A play to secure the top seed in the league.

“I knew he had the make-up and stuff to be a backend guy coming in to the season,” Davis said. “I didn’t know we were going to score late as much as we did and come up with clutch hits like we have this season, so he’s certainly benefitted from that. But he’s been clutch for us in a number of roles.”

Although he is an actual reliever, Reeves leads the Rebels in innings pitched with almost 53 and as well as appearances with 23. His 61 total strike outs are third on the team.

He has come on in key situations numerous times and given Davis multi-inning outings. He worked five frames in relief in a 5-0 11 inning win in Region 4-6A action on the road over Pascagoula earlier this season, and also worked five innings in a similar situation against Hancock in league play in a 4-2 win in nine stanzas.

“Our pitching is always one our strongest points, but he’s given us a different dimension,” Davis concluded. “We’ll be counting on him to continue to do what he has been for us next week.”

Reeves also also turned himself into a reliable player offensively as well, which comes in handy when you’ve been in as many games as he has. He has driven in six runs and scored eight times with two doubles and a triple at the plate.

George County faces Warren Central for the Class 6A state championship in a best-of-three series that begins Wednesday afternoon in Pearl at Trustmark Park home of the Class AA Mississippi Braves.

Game one is set for 4 p.m., Wednesday with game two set for Friday afternoon at the same time. A third and deciding game, if needed, will take place at some point on Saturday.