Prep Baseball: Gators thump Sacred Heat 14-6 Friday night in the Hub City

Gautier pitcher Sebastian Gonzalez lets loose with a throw off the mound Friday night vs. Sacred Heart. (Photo by Jesse Johnson)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — Sacred Heart High here in the Hub City was a pretty successful landing spot for a pair of prep baseball teams from Jackson County this week.

First, a week ago, Moss Point rallied late for a 7-6 win over the Crusaders.

Then, Friday night, Gautier rolled in and thumped Sacred Heart 14-6.

The win moves the Gators to an even 3-3 on the young season, while the Crusaders drop to 7-2 with both of those losses coming to those larger Jackson County foes.

Gautier base runner Fredrick Nicholson slides into the bag as Crusader third baseman Brad Marrero corrals a throw Friday night vs. Sacred Heart. (Photo by Jesse Johnson)

Gautier base runner Fredrick Nicholson heads back to the bag as Crusader first baseman Darren Brown awaits a throw Friday night vs. Sacred Heart. (Photo by Jesse Johnson)

Gautier infielder Ronnie Bates lets loose with a throw towards first Friday night vs. Sacred Heart. (Photo by Jesse Johnson)

Gautier infielder Yaxiel Perez attempts to turn two Friday night vs. Sacred Heart. (Photo by Jesse Johnson)

Gautier jumped out to a quick lead it would never relinquish with a four spot in the first frame, thanks to three hits, two walks and a pair of Crusader errors.

Sebastian Gonzalez’s RBI-double plated the first run, while two more runs came home when Sacred Heart misplayed a ball off the bat of Ronnie Bates to make it 3-0.

Frederick Nicholson’s run-scoring double in the top of the second stanza ran the count to 5-0.

The Crusaders responded with three runs, all from Kyron Murphy, as he hit a solo home run to get SHHS on the board in the third inning and then delivered a two-run single in the fourth to cut the deficit to 5-3.

The Gators bit back a bit with an RBI-single from Elijah Boose in the top of the fifth, before blowing the game open with back-to-back four run frames in the sixth and seventh.

Gautier base runner Fredrick Nicholson slides in ahead of the throw Friday night at third vs. Sacred Heart. (Photo by Jesse Johnson)

Gautier base runner Devon Garrett crosses home plate Friday night vs. Sacred Heart. (Photo by Jesse Johnson)

Gautier pitcher Sebastian Gonzalez lets loose with a throw off the mound Friday night vs. Sacred Heart. (Photo by Jesse Johnson)

Gautier base runner Fredrick Nicholson scampers back to the bag Friday night vs. Sacred Heart. (Photo by Jesse Johnson)

Bates had the big blow in the sixth with a two-run single, while — McInnis drove in two runs in the seventh with a double as well.

Bates had two hits and a game-high four RBIs to guide Gautier to the win, while both Nichols and Gonzalez each added two hits apiece also. Gonzalez, McInnis and Boose each drove in two runs apiece.

Gonzalez also picked up the pitching win, as he started and went the first five frames allowing three runs and striking out eight while walking seven.

Gautier is back in action Monday night vs. West Harrison.

In this sequence of photos, Gautier base runner Devon Garrett slides into home while Sacred Heart catcher Colten Garner readies the tag Friday night. (Photo by Jesse Johnson)