By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GAUTIER — Gautier ended arch-rival Pascagoula’s season Friday night.

Well, the Gators and Long Beach and Picayune.

Gautier nipped the Panthers by one run for the second time in 24 hours, with a 2-1 win at home to end the season for both teams.

That outcome, combined with a 1-0 road win for the Gators Thursday night, eliminated Pascagoula from state playoff contention.

On the heels of that 1-0 win Thursday night, Gautier scored two quick runs in the bottom of the first on Friday night, thanks to an RBI-double from Ronnie Bates and a run-scoring ground out from Ian McInnis, to take a lead it would never relinquish.

Herrion Figueroa worked six solid stanzas to get the pitching win, striking out six in the process and scattering just two singles. Dakota Jackson came on in the seventh and set PHS down in order to earn a save.

Willie Sims went the distance for the Panthers, allowing only two hits and striking out 11 but was saddled with the tough luck loss. He also drove in the only run for his team.

The Panthers left the bases loaded in the sixth, and left two men on base to end both the third and fourth frames.

The two losses by PHS opened the door for Long Beach to take the fourth and final seed from Region 4-6A, despite a 4-2 loss to Picayune Friday night.

Pearl River Central will be the one seed and Hancock the two seed, while the Maroon Tide is locked in as the third seed.

Long Beach will take an 8-20 overall record into an opening round Class 6A South State series match-up with George County next week.

Pascagoula wraps up the season at 7-21 overall, and Gautier at 8-17.