It took two days, but a Class 6A South State champion was crowned Tuesday evening in Carriere.
George County scored 12 unanswered runs to blow out host Pearl River Central 12-1 in the decisive Game Three, reaching the state baseball finals for the first time since 2018.
The teams split the first two games of the series on Friday and Saturday.
After the Blue Devils (25-9) scored in the first inning Monday on a bases-loaded walk to make it 1-0, the Rebels reeled off seven runs in the second to take a commanding lead, capitalizing on several PRC miscues.
A balk brought in the tying run and an RBI single by Ben Davis put George County on top. The Rebels went up 5-1 on a two-run single by Gage Reeves. Two errors on the play allowed the fifth run to score.
Tripp Lightsey tripled to drive in a run and scored on a single by Blaine Green to make it 7-1.
The game was halted in the fourth inning because of rain.
When the game picked back up on Tuesday, George County continued its onslaught.
The Rebels scored five runs in the sixth inning to blow the game open. Lightsey had a sacrifice fly to drive in a run and George County then took advantage of a two-run error on a bunt single to make it 11-1.
Andrew Nielsen belted a run-scoring double to cap the inning.
Gage Reeves, Cayler Havard, and Jacob Eubanks paced the 12-hit George County attack with two hits apiece.
The Blue Devils, who last played for and won a state championship in 2017, were paced by Jacob Johnson with two hits. Russell Wilson and Blake Gill each had a hit for PRC.
George County (28-5) will face Warren Central for the 6A state championship after the Vikings (21-12) captured the North State title by sweeping Center Hill 5-0 and 7-3 over the weekend.
The best-of-three 6A state championship series will begin next week at Trustmark Park in Pearl.
