By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HURLEY — Two teams with three state prep baseball championships to their credit over the past three years faced off here Tuesday night.

East Central used a trio of runs in the middle of the game to nip George County 3-2 in an early season showdown between two of the most successful programs in the state over the past decade.

The home-standing Hornets trailed 1-0 and 2-1 before pushing across a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth and then relied on the pitching combo of Grant Vick and Christian McFaul to hold on for the big win.

“That was a big team win for us,” veteran ECHS head coach Bo Long, who guided his Hornets to back-to-back state titles in 2022-2023, said. “Vick and McFaul did a great job pitching for us and we played very well defensively behind them. I was very proud of how competitive we were at the plate against a really good pitcher.”

It marked the second straight one run loss for the Rebels, who fell on the road 4-3 to Ocean Springs Friday night. It is also the first time in almost two years that GCHS lost back-to-back games in a season, after notching a program best 31-4 record last season on the way to the Class 6A state championship last year.

The Rebels went 7-3 last season in one run games on that historic run to the crown.

“Second one run loss in a row is tough,” Rebel mentor Brandon Davis, who has guided his alma mater to five trips to the state finals round in the past decade, said. “We had 10 one run games last year and were 7-3 in those games. We’ve lost to two good teams and adversity will make you better.”

George County grabbed an early 1-0 lead on an RB-double by reigning Class 6A Player of the Year Ben Davis in the top of the third.

The Hornets responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth to knot things up at 1-1 when Vick led off with a single and came around to score on a Rebel error one batter later.

The Rebels regained that slight one run advantage again in the top of the fifth frame when Grant Reeves socked a solo home run over the right field wall to make it 2-1.

But the home team answered once again, this time with a decisive two spot in the bottom 0f the inning on a two out rally when Anthony Tanner singled home McFaul and then Vick followed that up with a run-scoring double to plate Tanner to end the scoring at 3-1. McFaul singled to open the inning.

Vick started for ECHS and worked a solid first four frames, allowing one run on just one hit while walking just one and striking out four. McFaul relieved in the fifth and walked away with the win, giving up two hits in and one run in three innings on the hill while striking striking out three.

Vick and McFaul also led the winning way at the plate for the Hornets each collecting two hits apiece.

The extra base hits from Reeves and Davis were the highlights for the visitors, who only managed three hits off the pair of effective Hornet hurlers.

Rebel starter Preston McAdory suffered the tough luck loss on the mound, allowing two earned runs and six hits while striking out seven in five innings of work.