By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PEARL — For the first time in four years, the Class 5A state baseball championship trophy won’t reside in Jackson County.

And also for the first time in that span, it won’t even rest in the South part of the state for the next year.

In a bit of a surprise, Lafayette swept South Jones in two straight games in less than 24 hours for the Class 5A state championship here this week at Trustmark Park.

The Commodores bounced the Braves 7-1 on Wednesday afternoon before ending the series Thursday with a furious comeback to take a 9-6 decision.

This marks just the second state title ever on the baseball diamond for Lafayette, which suffered some heartbreak last season losing in three games to Vancleave. This year was the third trip to the state finals in six years for the Commodores, who finish the season at 27-8.

Lafayette head coach John Walker returned just one starter coming into this season after falling to the Bulldogs here at Trustmark Park to end last season.

The Commodores trailed South Jones throughout most of the game, down 6-3 heading into the sixth inning. However, Lafayette scored six runs through the final two innings, including a three-run double from Collin Waldrip in the top of the seventh.   

Walldrip was named the Most Valuable Player in the series, and he was a role player on last year’s squad that came up just short also.

“Last year, as a team, we all wanted to come back,” Waldrip said. “That was one of our things, going through practices and going through the season. Everybody wanted to get back here and win. So, you know, it’s a great feeling.”

The win ended a streak of three straight Class 5A state champs from Jackson County, in particular Region 4-5A, as prior to Vancleave’s title run last season East Central won back-to-back crowns in 2022 and 2023.

It was South Jones, in fact, that made sure that didn’t happen again eliminating the Bulldogs in the Class 5A South State semifinals in three games before sweeping the Hornets in the South State championship series.

Tornadoes fall

Perennial state power Purvis, ironically enough, will be joining both East Central and Vancleave along with Stone in a newly revamped Region 4-5A next year.

But the mighty Tornadoes will be heading south on a sour note.

West Lauderdale knocked off Purvis in three games here this week in the Class 4A state championship series. The Knights, also a force to be reckoned with in prep baseball circles for many years, took the rubber match 3-2 Thursday afternoon.

The Knights also won game one game one 2-1, before falling 3-2 in game two as all three games finished as one-run affairs.

It marked the 16th overall state baseball title for West Lauderdale, while Purvis was playing in the championship series for the seventh time in 23 years and looking for its fifth overall title.