By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

LUCEDALE — Defending Class 6A state champion George County took yet another step towards earning a chance to defend that crown Tuesday night.

The home-standing Rebels slipped past Pascagoula 2-1 in Region 4-6A action here at Claude Passeau Field, moving to 8-2 in the region race with the win. While GCHS sits in sole possession of the top spot, the Panthers dropped to 5-5 in league action and are still right thick of things in the chase for the state playoffs as well.

All the runs in the game came in the first frame, as Pascagoula scored on a fielding error by the Rebels to go up 1-0 before the Rebels responded with their two runs as Canyon Reeves led off with a walk and later scored on a wild pitch and Cayler Havard had an RBI-single.

From there, George County followed the pitching performance from ace Peyton McAdory to the win as he tossed six solid stanzas allowing just  one-hit and striking out eight and walking three in picking up the win.

Reeves, the Rebel closer, then came on in the bottom of the seventh and earned a save producing a scoreless last at bat for the Panthers.

“It was not pretty, but it was a win.” veteran Rebel head coach Brandon Davis said. “McAdory pitched really well and we scored two runs early and just held on and Canyon came in and did what he normally does at the end.”

Blaine Green had two hits including, a double, for the home team, while Tripp Lightsey also had a double.

Juse Ocaiso’s sixth inning single was the lone hit for PHS.

J.J. Trinidad started and took the loss on the mound for the Panthers without recording an out. Sean Norvell replaced him and hurled six scoreless stanzas to complete the contest.