By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

East Central bounced back from a series opening loss to Gautier to take that Region 4-5A affair with two big wins to end the week.

The Bulldogs and Wayne County now sit at 5-4 and tied for second in the region race behind league-leading Vancleave which still sits perfect at 9-0 after sweeping the War Eagles.

On Friday night, after losing game one to Gautier in stunning fashion, East Central responded in fine fashion with an 11-0 win in just five frames at home in Hurley.

Christian McFaul had two hits and drove in a game-high three runs for the Hornets, while Blake Hayes had two hits and drove in a run also. Jaxon Cripps also had an RBI, and both Grant Vick and Porter Martin had a double apiece.

Hunter Prouty went the game-shortened distance to get the win.

Fredrick Nicholson and Yaxiel Perez each had a double for the Gators.

Darrie Slay, Jr., took the loss.

On Saturday, the Hornets went on the road and took a 6-2 win.

Cripps wielded the big stick at the plate for ECHS, as he cracked a pair of two run home runs one to lead off the scoring for the Hornets in the top of the first and one to end it in the seventh.

Cripps wrapped up his career-high outing on the day with a game-high three hits and five RBIs, while Matthew Combs also had two hits and Anthony Tanner had a double.

Ronnie Bates had two hits for Gautier.

Sebastian Gonzalez took the loss. Gautier dropped to 4-5 and sits in a tie for the fourth spot with Stone in the region race.

Meanwhile, in a battle for the top spot in the region race Vancleave finished off Wayne County with 9-6 road win on Friday and a 5-3 home win on Saturday.

In game two, the Bulldogs got a home run from Martin Shaw among his three hits and he also drove in three runs. Kyle Capers had two hits, while Aidan Tapp had a two-run triple and Hunter Harper added a double.

Dane McElroy went the distance on the hill striking out seven to earn the win.

In the series finale, McElroy, Shaw and Harper each collected two hits apiece in the winning effort while McElroy, Capers and Max Bates each registered a double for the ‘Dogs. McElroy also drove in two runs.

Carter Doze worked six stanzas on the mound to take the win.

Vancleave won the opener 11-4.