SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

May 5, 2025

Prep Baseball: Rebels and Mustangs face off in do-or-die game three for second straight season

George County pitcher Preston McAdory lets fly with a throw vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

LUCEDALE — Last season, on the march to a Class 6A state championship, George County survived a second round series with West Jones with a win in game three of that match-up.

This year, as the Rebels again face the Mustangs in the rubber match of their Class 6A South State Semifinals affair, GCHS is looking for the same results and a similar outcome throughout the rest of the postseason.

The two teams meet in a one and done deal here Monday night at Claude Passeau Field with a trip to the Class 6A South State finals after splitting a pair of games over the weekend. The Rebels won game one at home in fine fashion 12-1 Friday, before the home-standing Mustangs bounced back to corral a 5-1 win Saturday night.

George County batter Blaine Green tears out of the box after making contact at the plate vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

George County infielder Canyon Reeves makes a throw towards first vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

George County infielder Brodie Cecchi makes a play on a bouncing ball up the middle vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

“This is the type of series I expected from a tough West Jones team,” veteran GCHS head coach Brandon Davis said.

On Friday, George County clubbed WJHS after jumping out to a quick and commanding leads of 3-0 and 6-1 before ending the game after just five frames with six runs in the final two innings.

Cayler Havard’s walk off grand slam ended the contest prematurely, and he finished with two hits and those four RBIs. Carson Pierce drove in a trio of runs with a bases loaded triple in the second stanza, and Tripp Lightsey added two hits and a pair of RBIs to the winning effort. Canyon Reeves had two hits, including a double also.

George County infielder Brodie Cecchi attempts to turn two two vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

George County base runner Canyon Reeves lunges for the plate vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

George County outfielder Carson Pierce settles under a fly ball vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Peyton McAdory went the distance on the mound to pick up the pitching win for the Rebels, allowing just two hits and striking out 10.

On Saturday, senior Mustang pitcher Clay Tolbert made sure his career would last at least one more game as he came within one out of a complete game striking out 12 Rebel batters in the process and scattering five hits to earn the win.

George County outfielder Tripp Lightsey tracks down a fly ball vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

George County base runner Cayler Havard leaps back to first on a pick off attempt vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

George County outfielder Tripp Lightsey tries to get a handle on the ball vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

West Jones got off to a fast start with a 3-0 early lead thanks to a run in the first and two more in the second for a lead it would never relinquish.

Grant Reeves provided the only run of the game for GCHS on a solo home run, and Blaine Green had a double.

Pierce took the pitching loss.