MHSAA 6A Baseball Playoffs Roundup (April 30): Three series headed to decisive third game
6A North
Oxford 17, Center Hill 4 (Oxford wins series 2-0)
The Chargers pounded out 17 runs on 13 hits and two walks to finish off the series sweep Saturday night. Jack Harper, Thomas Rayburn and Brady Stinnett all homered and finished with three RBIs, but Ben Goubeaux led the way with four RBIs and two runs scored. Stinnett went all five innings on the mound, giving up one earned run on five hits and three walks.
Hernando 8, Germantown 3 (Series tied 1-1)
The Tigers got off the deck like Rocky Balboa after a 3-2 loss in game one. Hernando put up four runs in the fifth — highlighted by Topher Jones’ two-run homer — to put the game out of reach. Junior Tyler Sullivan went the distance on the mound, earning the win by limiting Germantown to two earned runs on seven hits and a walk, striking out seven Maverick hitters.
DeSoto Central 8, Southaven 5 (DCHS wins series 2-0)
The Jaguar offense put up crooked numbers in each of the first three innings, built a 7-1 lead and hung on to close out the series Saturday night. The Jaguars scored eight runs on nine hits and three walks and benefitted from four Southaven fielding errors. Brock Tapper got the win on the mound, allowing three earned runs in 5.1 innings on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Josh Jones earned the save in relief.
Madison Central 11, Starkville 5 (MC wins series 2-0)
The defending 6A Champion Jaguars pounded out 11 runs on 14 hits and a couple of walks to put their second-round series with Starkville on ice. Matt Reed and Chase Russell both tallied three hits for MC, but it was Ross Highfill who provided the fireworks, with five RBIs, including a three-run homer in the fourth. Russell also homered and picked up the win on the mound, allowing two earned runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts in five innings.
More: Updated MHSAA 6A Baseball Playoffs brackets
6A South
Brandon 15, Biloxi 7 (Brandon wins series 2-0)
Boy, the Bulldogs made quick work of the Indians, winning 15-7 Saturday after winning 10-0 Friday night. The Bulldogs are tearing the cover off the baseball lately, and that was certainly the case in the second game in the series. The Bulldogs scored 15 runs on 13 hits and drew nine walks. Leadoff man Mozelle Little went 3-for-3 at the plate with a homer and two doubles, drove in five runs and scored three more. Biloxi fought the good fight — the Indians scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 7-7, but the Bulldogs put up eight runs in the seventh.
Pearl 12, D’Iberville 3 (Series tied 1-1)
Andrew Arrant hurled a beauty and the Pirates scored 10 runs in the first two innings to land the knockout blow against the Warriors Saturday night to even the series. Arrant and John Mark Grissom had two hits for the Pearl, and Griffen Dennis hit a grand slam in the second inning. Arrant only gave up two hits and struck out 11 in seven innings of work on the mound.
Northwest Rankin 5, St. Martin 0 (NWR wins series 2-0)
Nick Monistere, Brady Thomas and Brice Ainsworth all tallied two hits and Connor Brooks spun a beauty for the Cougars as they closed out their second-round series with the Yellow Jackets. Brooks went six innings without giving up a run. He only allowed three hits, issued two walks and struck out seven.
Petal 9, Gulfport 5 (Series tied 1-1)
The Panthers evened the series Saturday night thanks to a couple of big offensive innings in the first and fourth. Blake King and Will Raborn each drove in three runs, but the most impressive performance was out of the Panther bullpen. Davis Knight got the win, allowing one earned run on one hit and three walks in 2.2 innings of relief work. Cayne Hensarling closed the door with a scoreless seventh to seal the win.
