Prep Baseball: Rebels rally for 4-2 game one win over Blue Devils
George County’s Canyon Reeves is greeted at home plate by Rebel teammates Tripp Lightsey (3) and Ben Davis (6) after his two run home run Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
LUCEDALE — Defending Class 6A state champ George County is one win away from getting a chance to play for the title again.
The Rebels rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth stanza against Pearl River Central to erase a 2-1 deficit and pull out a 4-2 win here at Claude Passeau Field Monday night in game one of the Class 6A South State championship series.
George County heads to Carriere Tuesday night with a chance to punch its ticket back to Trustmark Park in Pearl and defend its crown.
George County shortstop Brodie Cecchi attempts to stop a throw down at second vs. PRC as Blue Devil base runner J.J. Morreale slides in Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)George County shortstop Brodie Cecchi attempts to stop a throw down at second vs. PRC as Blue Devil base runner J. J. Morreale slides in Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)PRC infielder Luke Herring makes a play on a ground ball vs. George County Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)PRC batter Landyn Wilson fouls off a pitch vs. George County Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
“This team just seems to find a way to win when it matters,” veteran GCHS head coach Brandon Davis said.
Trailing 2-1, Ben Davis led off the bottom of the sixth with a triple and then trotted home along with Canyon Reeves after Reeves blasted a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall to make it 3-2. Tripp Lightsey followed with a double, as did Cayler Havard to drive in Lightsey and suddenly it was 4-2 as the Rebels plated three runs on four straight hits before the Blue Devils could record an out.
Davis, the reigning Class 6A “Player of the Year”, put the home team ahead early 1-0 with a lead-off solo home run in the bottom of the first frame.
George County base runner Tripp Lightsey slides into second vs. PRC Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)George County batter Canyon Reeves offers up a bunt vs. PRC Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)George County pitcher Preston McAdory takes aim on home plate vs. PRC Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)George County shortstop Brodie Cecchi keeps an eye on a ground ball vs. PRC Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
PRC bounced back with two runs in the top of the third as Kendall Morrison led off with a solo homer and another run scored on a ball off the bat of Talon Cipriano that the Rebels mis-played into an error.
Reeves and Davis had two hits apiece to pace the Rebels at the plate. Four of George County’s five extra base hits came in that decisive sixth stanza.
A trio of Rebel pitchers combined to two-hit PRC, as Preston McAdory started and worked the first five frames. Chandler Cameron hurled a clean sixth, and was the benefactor of the Rebel rally to earn the win while Reeves came on an earned a save throwing the seventh.
PRC pitcher Cole Bounds takes aim on home plate vs. George County Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)PRC batter Kendall Morrison tears out of the box after slapping a solo home run vs. George County Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)PRC batter Eric Mavor, Jr., fouls off a vs. George County Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)George County outfielder Carson Pierce settles under a fly ball vs. PRC Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
Davis indicated that Cameron’s inning of work was a key because that allows the Rebels to utilize Reeves again in game two if necessary.
Cole Bounds, the second of three PRC pitchers, sailed through four innings before getting ambushed in the sixth and took the loss.
George County shortstop Brodie Cecchi takes a stab at a line drive at second vs. PRC Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)George County base runner Ben Davis heads toward third with a triple vs. PRC Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)George County base runner Canyon Reeves reacts after smacking a two-run home vs. PRC Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)George County batter Bryce O’Neal gets plunked with a pitch vs. PRC Monday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
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