By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

CARRIERE — The George County Rebels (25-10) scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning and scored another run in the top of the seventh inning in their comeback win over Pearl River Central (21-13) for the 6A South State championship on Tuesday. That last run closed out the game’s scoring at 7-6, clinching the series at 2-0.

The score was tied at 6-6 going into the seventh inning when Grant Reeves got on base on an infield single to shortstop with one out. Carson Pierce followed him at the plate with a double to deep right field, putting two runners in scoring position. The Blue Devils chose to load the bases with a coach’s decision to walk Ben Davis.

Canyon Reeves was next up for the Rebels, and he grounded his third pitch to second base for the sacrifice out at second base, but scoring Reeves for the winning run.

“This group right here, the only thing you can really say is that I never get nervous,” said George County coach Brandon Davis. “It’s a different guy every night. They find a way to get it done. They literally play for each other.”

One of the biggest plays of the night was the game’s only double play as a pop-up bunt was caught by a diving Cayler Havard who was playing up from the first base position. After making the catch, he rolled out of the diving catch and threw to first base for the second out.

“Havard is underrated for how athletic he is,” said Davis. “People see a big guy and they just count him off. That kid can play. He’s been the four-hole for two years for us. For him to make that play for us was huge. He’s like the perfect teammate. He never has a bad day.”

The four runs in the fifth inning gave the Rebels their first lead of the game at 6-4 going into the bottom of the fifth inning. But the Blue Devils would respond in the bottom of the fifth inning, capitalizing on two walks early in the inning. and JJ Morreale would send a triple to the centerfield fence, scoring two runs to tie the game up for the Blue Devils at 6-6.

George County would make a pitching change in the bottom of the sixth inning, bringing in Bradyn Havard to close. He would walk the first batter he faced, but that batter would go down in the double play. The third out would come on a ground ball to second base thrown out at first base.

The Blue Devils would load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Havard would close the game with three pitches, striking out Blake Gill to move on the 6A State Championship.

The Blue Devils took the early lead at 2-0 after scoring a run in each of the first two innings. George County scored a run in the third and another in the fourth to tie the game at 2-2. The Blue Devils would score two more runs in the fourth inning to regain the lead at 4-2.

“These kids play for each other, and they have that confidence that you have to beat us,” said Pearl River Central’s coach Buddy Turnage. “We’re going to play as hard as we can until that final out. And I think that’s what they did in this series.”