6A North: Bradley Loftin goes the distance to pitch Desoto Central past Oxford 6-3 in series opener

OXFORD — DeSoto Central set the tone early in Saturday’s 6-3 win over Oxford in the 6A North Championship series opener.

Now, they Jaguars are hoping that momentum will carry over into Game 2, which is set for 7 p.m. Monday night at Desoto Central.

The Jaguars picked up four runs in the first inning on a wild pitch, a two-RBI double from Ryan Musselwhite and an RBI double from Gavin Brassfield, and starting pitcher Bradley Loftin went the distance to pick up the win.

“At this time of the year — or anytime of the year — I tell my guys to watch your actions," said DeSoto Central Coach Mark Monaghan. "They're doing this for the hundreds of guys that came before them. If we do go down, we go down with a fight."

There was a whole lot of fight, and not a lot of going down for the Jaguars Saturday.

Colton Coates picked up a pair of hits, scored and drove in one run. Brock Tapper singled and scored a run and Kirstian Sprawling singled, drew a walk and scored two runs.

Loftin was solid for all seven innings on the mound. The Mississippi State signee walked four batters, but he only gave up two hits and struck out nine.

Oxford picked up a run in the third on Campbell Smithwick’s RBI single to right, and two more in the fifth after Loftin walked three of the first four batters in the inning. Oxford got one run on a sacrifice fly from Reid Kent and the second on another run-scoring single from Smithwick.

Loftin helped his own cause to get out of that jam without further damage, picking off a runner and striking out Ty Wicker on three pitches to end the inning.

"I knew I could catch them sleeping there,” Loftin said. “The umpire was making some questionable calls, but that is a part of the game.”

The Chargers never could break through after that. They put a man on base in both the sixth and seventh inning — via a hit-by-pitch and a Jaguar fielding error — but never brought get the tying run the to plate.

Loftin said the Jaguars are just hot at the right time.

"I think we just need to continue doing what we are doing,” Loftin said. “Hitting the ball and playing good defense.”