(Editors Note: This is the fourth of a four part series on standout student/athletes in the “Southern Six” that recently completed their careers and graduated.)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PETAL — Over the past two seasons, the George County baseball team won 54 games and played for the Class 6A state championship twice.

Included in that stretch is a 30-5 overall mark last season when the Rebels captured just their second state title in program history, the best overall record percentage wise in program history. The two-year total marks the second most successful span for a GCHS baseball team, second to only the 1996 and 1997 squad which also played for back-to-back state crowns and won 59 games.

Veteran GCHS head coach Brandon Davis was part of that 1996-97 span as a standout catcher for the Rebels, and guided the most current crop of Rebels to the that second best career total. But as Davis enters his 15th eason at the helm of his alma mater next year, and the Rebels look to make a third straight trip to Trustmark Park to battle for the title for a state title for the sixth time in 12 seasons,he’ll do so without a senior class that numbers eight and departs after leaving an indelible mark of the George County High School baseball program.

“They won 54 ball games in two season and have elevated this program to where it is expected to be by our standard.” Davis said, of the senior squad that received their diplomas Friday night at The Mitchell Center in mobile on the campus of the University of South Alabama.”. “It’s an expectation growing up here for baseball to be competitive year in and year out.”

Ben Davis, Tripp Lightsey, Canyon Reeves, Blaine Green, Preston McAdory, Brodie Cecchi, Bryce O’Neal and Braxton Martin all recently wrapped up their playing days for the Rebels.

A trio of that group, Davis, McAdory and Reeves, were recently named Class 6A First Team All-State for their work this season, while the duo of Lightsey and Green garnered Second Team All-State honors.

Also, Davis, Lightsey and McAdory were selected to play for the South squad in the annual Crossroads Diamond Club All-Star Games which is set for Tuesday night at 6 p.m., in Petal.