The annual Battle at the Beach wrapped up its 10-day run Saturday with a tripleheader at MGM Park as Gulfport picked up a win while West Harrison and St. Stanislaus each suffered losses at the home of the Biloxi Shuckers in the shadow of the Beau Rivage in Biloxi.
The Admirals finished up action in the BATB with a 2-1 mark after Saturday’s 5-2 win over Smiths Station, Ala. Gulfport fell behind in the top of the second inning, but Admirals’ catcher Yaviel Lopez answered back with an RBI single to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Senior Nate Edwards laid down a bunt to bring a runner home, adding to Gulfport’s lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Prince Cottonham retired five batters straight through the top of the fifth and sixth innings as he was brought into the game to take over on the mound. Smiths Station cut the lead to 4-2 later in the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore Davis Ormes answered by extending the Admiral’s lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth as a pinch hitter. The Admirals held on to win.
Gulfport will face St. Martin in their next game Thursday, March 23, at 7 pm at St. Martin Complex.
In the first game of the day, West Harrison suffered its fourth straight loss falling to Warren Central 5-4. The Hurricanes grabbed an early, one-run lead in the first inning, but the Vikings went ahead in the third inning. Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, West Harrison catcher Landen Wallace knocked a two-run single to recapture the lead 4-3. This was short-lived as Warren Central took advantage of two errors and a wild pitch in the top of the seventh to go up 5-4.
The Canes were in a position to regain the lead or tie in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded but could not bring a run home. Junior Hunter Ross went the distance in the losing effort, pitching all seven innings.
West Harrison, now 4-12, will look to end their four-game skid as they start district play at Picayune on Tuesday.
In the final game of the day, Petal ended St. Stanislaus’s four-game win streak with an 8-3 decision. St. Stanislaus jumped out to an early 3-0 lead against Petal, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning, but the Rock-a-Chaws could not maintain the advantage. Petal did not allow any more runs for the rest of the game while recording eight runs on six hits. Petal’s pitchers tallied seven strikeouts, allowing only two hits to the Rock-a-Chaws.
After falling to 7-7 overall, St. Stanislaus will look to remain unbeaten in district play against Seminary Tuesday at home.
