By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

VANCLEAVE — As heavy rainstorms were approaching the Mississippi Gulf Coast Tuesday night, defending Class 5A state champion Vancleave faced a damaging force of its own.

South Jones senior standout pitcher Dylan Causey dominated the Bulldogs in the rubber match of that Class 5A South State semifinal series as the Braves earned a 4-1 win and ended Vancleave’s hope of defending its crown.

Causey, a Southern Miss signee working on short rest, produced a complete game, nine strikeout worksheet scattering five hits and walking just two. He took a tough-luck 1-0 loss in game on of the series Friday night also in Vancleave, and then returned to the mound on just three days rest for the first time in his career.

“It was impressive for sure,” first-year VHS head coach Zac Haarala said, whose team finished the season at 26-8, said. “I actually thought his command was better in game three and he kept us off balance all night. You can tell why he’s one of the best arms in the state.”

The Bulldogs managed only a single run in the bottom of the sixth off of Causey, when Martin Shaw led off with a double and later scored on a wild pitch. But by that time, the Braves were already up 3-0 entering the inning.

Vancleave starter Carter Doze matched Causey pitch for pitch through almost the first five frames, as he faced five batters and got two outs in the top of the fifth but yielded to Bulldog ace Hunter Harper with the bases-loaded.

Harper, who out-dueled Causey Friday night, quickly gave up a two-run single to Evan Butler and the Braves suddenly had a 2-0 lead that they would never relinquish.

The Bulldogs also committed a huge fielding error in the inning with one out to put the first Brave base runner on in the frame.

South Jones then tacked on a run in each of its final two at bats to seal the win while Causey kept the Bulldogs at bay.

“Give all the credit to South Jones. They did what they needed to do to win games two and three and take the series,” Haarala concluded. “I’m extremely proud of my guys in the way they fought throughout the whole series. We just ran into a team that was playing better than us this week.”

Dane McElroy had a game-high three hits for the Bulldogs.

Doze deserved a better fate, as the number three Bulldog starter allowed just three hits and gave up no earned runs in taking the tough-luck loss.

South Jones, now 25-6, will face the winner of Wednesday night’s East Central-Florence game three winner in the Class 5A South State finals later this week.