Sumrall rides hot bats to 11-4 win over Pontotoc to clinch 2022 MHSAA 4A Baseball Championship

PEARL — The seven-year drought is over for Sumrall.

Thanks in equal parts to a a stellar offensive approach and the pitching of Andrew Knight, Sumrall got past Pontotoc 11-4 to sweep the series and claim the MHSAA Class 4A Baseball State Championship Thursday evening at Trustmark Park.

It’s the Bobcats (33-1) sixth state title in school history and first since 2015.

“We got team speed and we like to run the bases and be aggressive and our approach was if we get on base we’re going to run,” said Sumrall coach Andy Davis. “We find ways to score and always have an answer. These guys lost one game this year and didn’t want that feeling again.”

For the second time this series, Pontotoc jumped out to an early lead. The Warriors took a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first on back-to-back RBI singles by Brice Deaton and Ethan Ball.

But just like Game 1, the Bobcats responded. Sumrall picked up two runs in the top of the second on back-to-back RBI groundouts by Walker Long and Brycen Smith to tie the game 2-2.

Pontotoc came back with a two-run RBI ground-rule double by Jabari Farr to give the Warriors a 4-2 lead headed to the third.

After that, it was all Bobcats.

Ethan Aultman had a RBI fielder’s choice and Cade Dedeaux scored on a throwing for Sumrall to tie the game 4-4 in the third inning.

A RBI single by Hayes Raner and a wild pitch in the fourth gave Sumrall a 6-4 lead. Levi Odom had a RBI double in the fifth that extended the Sumrall lead to 7-4 in the fifth.

Aultman added a bases loaded walk in the sixth to give the Bobcats a 8-4 lead.

Sumrall added three runs in the top of the seventh to take the 11-4 lead, highlighted by a two-run single by Dedeaux.

Aultman had two hits to lead Sumrall offensively and was named the series Most Valuable Player.

“I’ve gained confidence and being more comfortable at the plate and have been seeing the ball really well,” Aultman said. “After last year losing in the state championship like we did, there is no better feeling than winning it.”

Pearl River CC signee Andrew Knight (9-1) got the win on the mound for Sumrall, tossing six innings giving up seven hits, four runs. He walked three and struck out seven.

“With us scoring runs like we did today it was good for Andrew to have confidence on the mound,” Davis said. “This is my first state title as a head coach, but coaching these guys is easy.”

Jon Robert Carnes (6-3) took the loss on the mound for Pontotoc. The Warriors finish the season 30-10 and still seek their first state title since 1986.

“Sumrall is a great team and just couldn’t put them away and our youth showed a little late in the game,” said Pontotoc coach Josh Dowdy. “We've got a bright future, but I couldn’t be more proud of these guys for getting us here. We were playing for more than a championship.”

(All photos by Austin Frayser)

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