Prep Baseball: St. Patrick storms into second round of Class 3A South State playoffs

St. Patrick infielder Bennett Rimes makes a play on a ground ball vs. Franklin County Saturday. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

BILOXI — St. Patrick was the fourth and final seed from Region 8-3A to qualify for the state playoffs.
However, you probably couldn’t convince Franklin County of that.
The Fighting Irish thumped the Bulldogs, the top seed in Region 7-3A, twice on two consecutive days over the weekend. With a 13-5 road win on Friday night and a 13-2 win at home on Saturday afternoon, St. Patrick moves on into the second round beginning Thursday.

St. Patrick infielder Kenner Williams leaps to stab a line drive vs. Franklin County Saturday. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

St. Patrick pitcher Gunner Eure takes aim on home plate with a throw vs. Franklin County Saturday. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

St. Patrick’s Cameron Messer (7) celebrates with his teammates after cracking a home run vs. Franklin County Saturday. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

The pair of wins move SPHS, under the direction of veteran head coach Kevin Burdine, to 18-12 overall.
In game two, the Fighting Irish got a game-high three hits, including a pair of home runs, from Camerom Messer and he also drove in a game-high five RBIs to help the home team clinch the series.
Tyler Zorn chappied in a pair of RBI-doubles to the winning effort, while Jasper Moran added two hits and Connor McCoy added two RBIs as well. William Gunn, Jr., also had a double.

In this sequence, St. Patrick base runner William Gunn slides into home as Franklin County catcher Mason Golman apllies the tag Saturday. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

Gunner Eure went the six stanza distance on the mound to take the win.
In game one, Zorn had a game-high three hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs, while Messer had a triple and posted a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs as well to power the win. Aiden Williams also had a double and drove in two runs.

In this sequence, St. Patrick base runner Cameron Messer slides into second as Franklin County infielder Jarvis Tillman apllies the tag Saturday. (Photo by Allan Ritter)