Eight straight
Published 7:00 am Tuesday, July 1, 2014
MERIDIAN — There is something about the State Games of Mississippi that seems to agree with Picayune’s Peyton Lee.
Lee smacked a grand slam Sunday in the championship game of the All-Star Baseball competition leading District 8 to a 14-4 win over District 3 for the title here at Meridian Community College.
It was the second straight season that Lee has been a part of the title winning team, after District 8 also went unbeaten last season in taking the crown. Sunday’s win makes District 8 8-0 in the past two State Games competition.
Pearl River Central’s Mason Songy also had a hit and drove in a run in the win for District 8 on Sunday.
The State Games of Mississippi began in 1992 with 1.200 athletes competing in 12 sports. This year, the games consisted of almost 40 different sports with more than 5,000 athletes competing. The event continues to attract amateur athletes from across the state for various competitions.
The State Games of Mississippi is a member of the National Congress of State Games and is affiliated with the U.S. Olympic Committee. Mississippi is one of 35 states that hold State Games competitions each year.
Competitors in the State Games of Mississippi are eligible to compete in the bi-annual Southeast Sports Festival. Medalists in the State Games of Mississippi are eligible to compete in the bi-annual State Games of America as well.
Although the event is based out of Meridian each year, events are also held at various other sites throughout the main three week stretch of competition.
Sunday’s win by District 8 completed a four day run to the crown.
District 8 opened defense of its title with an 8-2 win over District 1 on Thursday. The Green Goblins followed that up with a 6-1 win over District 7 Friday night.
District 7 battled back to beat District 4 10-6 on Saturday, setting up yet another clash with District 8 that night. District 8 then took an exciting 7-6 win over District 7 in the rematch, eliminating District 7 and sending District 8 to Sunday’s title game.
Meanwhile, after District 3 began play by beating District 5 6-4 the teams ended up battling through the competition and faced off again Sunday morning for the right to face District 8. District 3 eliminated District 5 5-3 before falling in the title game.