By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

LONG BEACH — George County has played in the last two Class 6A state baseball championship series.
And, if indications after round one of the current Class 6A South State playoffs are any barometer, the Rebels look intent on making a trip to Pearl for the third straight season late next month.
George County powered past Long Beach in two straight games late last week to move on, taking a 6-1 win at home on Thursday night and wrapping the series up with an 8-2 victory on Friday. The decision moves GCHS to 21-9 overall, and the Bearcats end the campaign at 8-22 overall.

In game two, Grant Reeves had two hits for GCHS, including an RBI-triple, while Harrison Havard also posted a double. Carson Pierce, Ulysses Pascaul and Gaje Johnston each drove in a run apiece.
Pierce went the distance and tossed a three-hitter with 13 strikeouts to take the win.
Braxton Clark had a triple for LBHS.
Landon Carden suffered the loss.

In the opener, Rebel starting pitcher Bradyn Havard struck out 13 in six solid stanzas of work, allowing four hits, to earn the win.
George County scored a trio of runs in each of the top of the first and second frames to give Havard more than enough support. Pierce drove in two runs, and he had a double, while Reeves posted two hits, including a triple. Maddox Dunn also had two hits for the Rebels.
Dax Arkin had a double for the Bearcats.
Kaiden Brown took the loss.
George County awaits the winner of Hancock and Hattiesburg in the second round.