South Carolina signee Stone Blanton blasts two homers as MRA evens MAIS 6A Championship series with 12-11 win over Jackson Prep

MADISON — There will be a Game 3 in the MAIS 6A Championship Series.

Behind a stellar offensive approach and the pitching of Corey Watkins, Madison-Ridgeland Academy held off rival Jackson Prep 12-11 to even the series 1-1 in Game 2 of the MAIS Class 6A title series at Patriot Field Wednesday night.

The decisive Game 3 will be on Thursday night at Jackson Prep at 6 p.m.

“We always talk about the most important thing, and that’s what you do next and I’m proud of the way our kids responded tonight,” said MRA coach Allen Pavatte. “We did a good job of hitting and we’re living to play for another day.”

It was back and forth early, and both teams seemed determined to respond to each challenge.

Jackson Prep took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Konnor Griffin.

MRA tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first on a RBI single to left by Peyton Martin.

Prep regained the lead in the top of the second on a two-run double down the right field line by Cy Craig.

MRA answered with three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-3 lead on a RBI single by Kaleb Lipscomb, a RBI double by Martin and a throwing error.

Prep tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the fourth as Matthew Cochran came home to score as part of a double steal.

MRA came right back with four runs in the bottom of the frame — highlighted by a solo home run by South Carolina signee Stone Blanton and a two-run double by Nicholas Arnold — to take an 8-4 lead.

Prep trimmed that back to 8-5 in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk, and nearly blew the game open on a potential grand slam off the bat of Duncan Matthews if not for Martin's game-saving catch over the top of the wall in left.

“That was a turning point in the game for sure," Pavette said. "But there were a bunch of emotional moments during the game. I was proud of the guys of how they battled and kept responding.”

The Patriots piled on four more runs in the fifth to extend their lead to 12-5, as Blanton hit his second homer of the night. The other runs came home on a throwing error, a RBI single by Lipscomb and Watkins was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Blanton, Lipscomb and Martin each had two hits to lead MRA (36-5).

“Last night wasn’t our night and we had to come together as a team," Blanton said. "Konnor is a real good pitcher, so we had to adjust at the plate we did that tonight,” Blanton said. “Our backs were against the wall and coach came to us leaders last night and said 'Who's going to lead us?' And we knew we had to step up.”

Prep cut the lead to 12-8 in the sixth on a RBI single by Rives Reynolds, a sacrifice fly by Graham Busbea and a bases-loaded walk. Griffin hit a three-run homer with two outs to left center in the seventh to cut the MRA lead to 12-11.

But all that wasn't enough — Watkins got the final six outs. He gave up three runs on two hits, but got back-to-back strikeouts to end the sixth and struck out three batters in the seventh to end the game.

“He did a great job of mixing up pitches and got some big strikeouts against really good hitters,” Pavatte said. “Tomorrow night is going to be a dog fight between two of the best teams in the state."

Griffin (6-2) took the loss on the mound for Prep (30-7). Craig had three hits to lead the Patriots.

“We knew we were going to get everything they had, and hats off to them for the way they played,” said Jackson Prep coach Brent Heavener. “We battled to the end, just couldn’t finish. We will go back with all hands on deck for tomorrow, refocus and be ready.”