By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

CARRIERE — The rematch is set.
Pearl River Central thumped visiting West Jones 11-1 in just five frames Tuesday night in the rubber match of this Class 6A South State semifinals series. The win moves the Blue Devils into the South State finals for the third straight season, where PRC will meet perennial state power George County for the third straight year as well with a trip to the overall Class 6A state title round on the line.
PRC sits 27-7, while West Jones ends the campaign at 19-11.

After taking a come-from-behind, walk-off win in nine innings just 24 hours later, the Mustangs tried to keep that momentum going by taking a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first in the third and deciding game. But, after that, it was all Blue Devils.
PRC responded with 11 straight runs over its next four at bats to storm back and secure the big win. The barrage started with a two-run home run by Blake Gill in the Blue Devils first at bat, as the home team took a lead it would never relinquish.
Gill followed with a two-run single in the second stanza, when PRC scored four runs to make it 6-1. Then, in the third frame, four more runs followed when J.J. Morealle slapped a two-run triple, and Gill followed with a two-run single to seal the deal at 10-1.

Gill’s career night at the plate paced PRC, as he collected three hits and six RBIs. Morealle had two hits, including that triple, and Kendall Morrison also had a triple. Eric Mavor had two hits, and Landyn Wilson chipped in a double to the winning effort as well.
Cole Bounds went the distance on the hill to pick up the pitching win.
In the next round, the Blue Devils will be looking for some revenge after George County has sent them packing the last two years in the same round. The Rebels went on to win the 2024 Class 6A state title, before falling to Saltillo in the finals last year.