By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

BILOXI — East Central won back-to-back Class 5A state championships in 2022 and 2023.

And, if the two outings in the annual “Battle at the Beach” Thursday were any indication, the Hornets may be in prime position as they open Region 4-5A play next week to make yet another run at their third title in four seasons.

East Central began the day with a close 5-4 win over perennial Class 7A state power Northwest Rankin at Biloxi High, and then moved on to Keesler Federal Park later in the day to knock off Columbia Academy 7-3.

“That was two big wins against two very good opponents,” veteran Hornet head coach Bo Long said. “We had been struggling badly for the last couple of weeks, and with district play starting next week we really needed a good day of ball to hopefully get us heading in the right direction.”

Long’s crew moved to 5-8 overall with the decisions, and the wins stopped a brief three game losing streak for ECHS.

In game one, the Hornets wasted no time in jumping out to a seemingly commanding 5-4 lead after just two innings thanks to a four-run second stanza, and then held off the Cougars at the end for the win.

A two-run home run from Jaxon Cripps was the big blow in that second inning rally, while Pacey Baria also added a two-run single to the winning effort.

Christian McFaul and Hunter Prouty each worked three frames apiece on the hill for ECHS, with McFaul starting and getting the win. Senior Anthony Tanner came on in the seventh and picked up the save.

McFaul also had two hits at the plate to lead the Hornets.

Nelson Barthel and Gavin Phillipson each had two hits apiece for NWR.

In game two, ECHS overcame an early 1-0 deficit to take a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth frame thanks in part to an RBI-single from Tanner and a run-scoring single by McFaul.

However, Columbia Academy tallied a solo run in each of the fifth and sixth stanzas to knot things up at 3-3 heading into the seventh inning.

But the Hornets responded as Grant Vick sliced a two-run triple to left field and Tanner added another RBI-single to seal the deal.

Tanner’s two hits and two RBIs paced the Hornets at the plate.

Will Garriga, the second of a trio of Hornet hurlers, picked up the win on the mound.

Logan Buckley had a triple for the Cougars.

The loss overshadowed a pretty solid pitching performance from Columbia Academy’s Owen Simmons, who started and tossed six effective stanzas allowing just two hits and striking out seven.