No. 2 Pearl River claims back-to-back MACCC titles, fourth in five years

BOONEVILLE, Miss. (PRCCAthletics.com) — When the stakes are high, The River rises.

Needing just one win and coming off an extra-innings 2-1 game one loss, the No. 2 Pearl River baseball team rose to the occasion once again. Wearing their "magic mustards", the Wildcats crushed Northeast 7-1 in the nightcap to capture back-to-back MACCC Championships and the fourth title in the last five seasons. 

"I think back to the first time we did this and how special it was," head coach Michael Avalon said. "It was just as special and tough tonight with this group. Doing what we just did in the toughest conference in the country is special. It's a long haul, it's not easy — what a special group.

"This is a big goal, and I made sure to tell them how tough it was to get here. We've still got more we want to accomplish."

Pearl River has now captured seven MACCC titles in the program's history — five of which have come in the Avalon era. 

"It's such a surreal feeling. You almost want to cry," team captain Caston Thompson said. "You're with your brothers. You've worked so hard all year long. The long days, the long practices. We're not done, but this is one big step."

Pearl River now moves forward to the Region 23 Tournament. It will be hosted at Dub Herring Park May 5-9. More information will be released soon.

GAME TWO
Following a tough game-one loss, Pearl River (43-7 overall; 23-3 MACCC) needed someone with some experience when searching for the MACCC-clinching win against Northeast (29-21; 16-10). The Wildcats handed the ball to Caleb Dyess (Carriere; Pearl River Central), who locked down the title for the Wildcats a year ago. The right-hander went on to throw three innings of one-run baseball.

Topher Jones (Hernando) gave his team a shot of momentum in the second frame, blasting a solo shot deep over the wall in left field to put the Wildcats ahead. Although the Tigers matched it a half inning later, it burst the bubble.

Dyess gave way to Patrick Spencer Jr. (Greenville; Washington School) in the fourth, and the right-hander got off to a hot start by striking out the side. The outburst lit up the dugout, and the offense went right out and tacked on a two-spot. With Kyler King (Picayune) on second, Jacob Keys (Brandon) ripped a pitch that short-hopped the NEMCC shortstop for an RBI. On the hit, Logan Fontenelle (Biloxi) made it to third and scored on Caston Thompson's (Jayess; Brookhaven Academy) sacrifice fly, 3-1.

Spencer Jr. retired six of the next seven batters he faced — three by the strikeout — and PRCC tacked on four runs in the seventh. A run scored on a balk, Jaxon Milam (Phenix City, Ala.; Glenwood Academy) singled through the left side of the infield for an RBI, King added an RBI single and Ethan Garner (Gulfport) slapped an RBI single into center field, 7-1.

Pearl River used Peyton Lacy (Pass Christian) and AJ Hansen (Mobile, Ala.; McGill-Toolen) in the bottom of the seventh. After two quick outs from Lacy, Hansen needed just three pitches to earn a strikeout and send the Wildcat dugout spilling onto the field in excitement.

Dyess threw three innings of one-run baseball, allowing two hits and striking out two. Spencer Jr. was electric in relief. The right-hander threw three hitless innings, punching out six of the 10 batters he faced. Lacy struck out one in 2/3 of an inning, and Hansen recorded the final out with a three-pitch strikeout.

Keys, Milam and King each had two hits and an RBI. Jones had one hit, one RBI and two walks. Logan Terry (Semmes, Ala.; East Central) also walked twice.

GAME ONE
The opening game of the day was a pitchers' duel from start to finish. Pearl River starter Jacob Johnson (Carriere; Pearl River Central) cruised by in the first six innings of the day, giving up just one run on five hits and one walk.

The Pearl River offense repeatedly barreled up baseballs, but nothing seemed to fall. It wasn't until the ninth inning that Pearl River finally tied things up. A King single and Garner single had runners on the corners with Terry at the plate. The sophomore dropped a perfect safety squeeze, and King slid into the plate, 1-1.

PRCC put runners on in the 10th and 11th innings, but Northeast took the game in the bottom of the 11th with a walk-off double, 2-1.

Drew Harrison (Madison; Germantown) threw 2 2/3 innings of relief, allowing just two hits and striking out four. Carson Fair (Southaven) tossed 1 2/3 innings, giving up one run on four this and a walk. He had three strikeouts.

Terry was the only hitter with multiple hits. Jones walked twice.