By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PEARL — George County is one win away from its second baseball state championship in school history.

Jacob Eubanks’ run-scoring sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth stanza snapped a 2-2 tie and provided the game-winning run in a 3-2 decision over Warren Central in game one of the Class 6A state championship Wednesday afternoon here at Trustmark Park.

The Rebels will try and capture their first state title in 27 years, since 1997, Friday afternoon with a win in game two at the home of the Class AA Mississippi Braves.

Warren Central must now win the next two games to take home its first state title in 23 years, since 2001, and just second overall as well.

“Great team win,” veteran George County head coach Brandon Davis said. “We got great pitching from McAdory and Reeves and Green and Havard came up big at the plate.”

The game was scoreless through the first three frames, as both the Rebels and Vikings left a few runners on base.

But Warren Central finally got to George County starting pitcher Preston McAdory in the top of the fourth.

Cade Fairly led the inning off with a single, and Lester Martin moved him over to second base with a sacrifice bunt. Hayes Loper followed that with an RBI-single to left field to break open the deadlock, and Trace Hood stepped up to the plate next and drove Loper home with a run-scoring single of his own.

The lead would be short-lived, however. 

Suddenly trailing 2-0, George County responded immediately with two runs of its own to tie the game back up.

Tripp Lightsey led the bottom of the fourth off with a single, and Cayler Havard followed that up with a double to left putting runners on second and third. Blane Green then smacked a two-run single to right to result in the 2-2 tie.

The Rebels did, however, have runners at second and third with one out and left both stranded.

Fortunately, George County made up for it in the bottom of the sixth with the eventual game-winning run on Eubanks’ timely plate appearance that scored courtesy runner Brodie Ceechi. Ceechi was running for Havard, who led the frame off with a single.

“That is why we are here, this bunch has the most character and integrity of any team I’ve been apart of in 22 years,” Davis added. “They balance each other so well and believe in one another and do not get upset when a teammate does well or if they are having a bad game.”

McAdory worked six solid frames to pick up the win on the hill, striking out five, walking four and scattering five hits.

Cannon Reeves came on in relief in the bottom of the seventh and set the Vikings down in order to earn a save.

Havard and Green had two hits apiece to pace GCHS offensively.

Connor Watkins took the loss for the Vikings.