By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

LUCEDALE — Long live the King.

George County defended its Region 4-6A title with a pair of 8-5 wins over Pascagoula in an 18 hour span. The Rebels, the defending Class 6A state champs, beat the Panthers on the road on Friday night before returning home to Claude Passeau Field Saturday afternoon to sweep the series by the same score.

The wins move veteran head coach Brandon Davis’ crew to 10-2 in the region race. Picayune and Long Beach are the only teams left in the loop that can reach 10 wins, and GCHS has the head-to-head tiebreaker over each.

It’s the second time in a decade, since winning four straight district titles from 2013-2016, that the Rebels have won back-to-back regular season crowns under the direction of Davis.

“Going back to back as district champs is very difficult to do at anytime but in this district it’s almost impossible,” Davis, in his 15th season at the helm of his alma mater, said. “We have a great group of kids who have learned how to win when it matters.”

On Saturday, George County carried some of that momentum over from the night before as they erased an early 1-0 Pascagoula lead with a six run second stanza that gave the home team a lead it would never relinquish.

Ben Davis and Blaine Green each had two hits and an RBI apiece in the win, and one of Green’s hits was a double. Tripp Lightsey chipped in a triple and an RBI as well.

Brayden Havard, in his best outing on the mound all season, worked just over four frames striking out seven and allowing eight hits to get the win. Canyon Reeves earned a save.

Johan Baez, one for four Panther pitchers, started and took the loss for PHS.

Braden Smith had a game-high three hits to pace the Panthers at the plate, while Willie Sims collected two hits and drove in a game-high three RBIs. Knute Robinson added two hits, including a double, and drove in a run for PHS while Jose Ocasio also had two hits.

“We saw some great pitching the last two days, and really had to grind out some at bats.” Davis added. “We got into their bullpen last night and did our damage and today we hit the starter. These guys just find a way to win.”

On Friday night, the Rebels rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh stanza to overcome a slight 5-4 Panther lead and pull out the win.

Brodie Cecchi had two hits, including a double, for the Rebels and he drove in a pair of runs while Cayler Havard also had a double and drove in two runs as well. Ben Davis and Grant Reeves also notched a double each for GCHS.

Carson Pierce started and tossed five frames and was in line for the loss, until Chandler Cameron relieved him and took the win with one inning of work. Canyon Reeves also got a save in this one.

Sean Norvel has two hits for PHS.

Knute Robinson struck out 12 in six stanzas of work on the hill for the Panthers, before Ra’Shard Earnest was tagged with the loss.

Pascagoula now stands 5-7 in the region race and currently sits in the fifth spot in the region race and on the outside looking in at a spot in the state playoffs.