PRC, Poplarville get big league wins
Published 1:33 pm Saturday, March 23, 2013
Both Pearl River Central and Poplarville picked up huge district wins Friday night in prep baseball action.
The homestanding Blue Devils rallied for a big 4-3 win over defending Class 5A state champion Pascagoula.
Pearl River Central overcame a two run deficit with a three run rally to capture the win.
The Blue Devils tallied the trio of runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull out the win in a game that pitted the two teams leading their respective districts in South Mississippi.
The win also served as a little revenge for PRC (10-4, 6-1), after Pascagoula (7-7, 5-2) knocked off PRC in the Class 5A South State semifinals last season en route to winning the state championship.
Pascagoula took the early lead as Carlos Lott drove in runs in both the second and fourth frames.
PRC cut the 2-0 deficit in half on a RBI-single by Jake Scheuerman in the fourth. But Pascagoula countered with a run-scoring single by Adam Smith in the top of the fifth to make it 3-1.
But PRC used a big Panther throwing error in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.
With runners on first and second, Blue Devil hitter Christian Smith laid down an infield single but the Panthers threw the ball into rightfield allowing both runners to score and tie the game and Smith to reach third. Lane Fazende’s sacrifice fly two batters later gave PRC the winning run.
Dylan Spiers (5-0) picked up the win, striking out seven and going the distance, while Drew Dunn took the loss.
Meanwhile, The Hornets went on the road and handed Greene County its first Region 8-4A loss picking up a 4-2 win.
Blake Ladner picked up the win and Mississippi State signee Zac Houston earned a save.
J.J. Welch led the winning attack at the plate for the Hornets with a pair of hits and he drove in two runs as well. The Wildcats had beaten Poplarville on Tuesday.
The games completed a big trio of district wins for local teams over a 24 hour period after Picayune beat Moss Point 8-2 Thursday night.
Poplarville is slated to travel to Hancock for a doubleheader today, while Picayune is set to go to Harrison Central for a twinbill as well.
*In prep fast-pitch softball action, Poplarville and Picayune picked up wins Thursday night while Pearl River Central lost.
The Lady Tide beat homestanding Long Beach 6-0. Picayune travels to St. Martin Monday night.
Poplarville, meanwhile, opened Region 8-4A play with a 6-1 win over Greene County. Tori Fairchild had three doubles in the winning effort, and Rachel Hickman picked up the win.
Also, PRC lost to visiting West Harrison 9-1. Emily Kennedy took the loss, while Elayna Warren drove in the only run for the Lady Devils as Claire Lumpkin scored.
All three local teams are slated to play multiple games in the D’Iberville Spring Fling Tournament today, weather permitting.
PRC is scheduled to play Gautier at 11 a.m., West Lauderdale at 12:30 p.m., and then meet George County at 5.
Picayune is slated to face Vancleave at 12:30 p.m., and West Lauderdale at 3:30 p.m.
Poplarville is scheduled to meet East Central at 9:30 a.m., and George County at 12:30 p.m.