By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

BILOXI — Catholic High broke open a close 2-1 game with a four spot in the top of the seventh en route to a 6-1 win over George County Friday.

The win by the Baton Rouge, La., based Bears came in second day action of the “Battle at the Beach” at Keesler Federal Park.

Catholic High got key two-run singles from both Andrew Clapinski and Jack Ruckert in the decisive at bat to secure the win. The Bears are now a solid 12-3 overall, after beating Presbyterian Christian out of. Hattiesburg 8-6 Saturday afternoon in third day action at BATB.

The Rebels, meanwhile, the defending Class 6A state champs, fall to 4-5 on the season and have suffered three straight losses.

The Bears broke open a scoreless tie in the third frame with an RBI-double by Noah Lewis and a run-scoring sacrifice fly off the bat of Harrison Kinder to make it 2-0.

George County scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth stanza when Canyon Reeves dealt a one-out single and Peyton Havard came on to run for him. With two outs, Cayler Havard plated Peyton Havard with a run-scoring sacrifice fly to cut the deficit in half at 2-1.

Besides that small blip, Clapinski was in complete control on the mounds for Catholic as he started and worked six solid stanzas scattering just four hits and striking out four while walking none to pick up the win.

Peyton McAdory tossed the first five frames for GCHS to take the loss.

The Rebels get back into BATB action Tuesday night at home hosting Germantown.