Jackson Prep used back-to-back homers in the seventh inning to take a come-from-behind, 7-6 victory over Pillow Academy in the first game of a best-of-three series for the Class 3A Division I state championship.
In the seventh, Jackson Prep’s Luke Maddox hit his second home of the contest, followed by another homer off the bat of catcher Neil Pope for the deciding margin. The victory moved Jackson Prep’s record to 28-6, while Pillow Academy fell to 19-10.
Winning pitcher Michael Porter ran his record to 11-0. The senior hurler has committed to play next year at Hinds Community College. Porter scattered three hits in seven innings, striking out 10 and walking five.
Pillow Academy is seeking its first state title since 1994, while Jackson Prep is going after its third straight championship and 12th overall.
More Baseball: Madison Central advances past Southaven
Malcolm Tate nearly singlehandedly carried Madison Central past Southaven in its recent MHSAA Class 5A baseball playoff series. He hit three home runs in the Jaguars’ 10-4 series-clinching victory over the Chargers that advanced Madison Central into the semi-finals.
Tate also homered and doubled in Madison Central’s 12-0, game-one victory in the best-of-three series. For the weekend, Malcolm was 6-for-8 with 11 RBI. His efforts helped the Jaguars move to 4-0 in the playoffs, outscoring opponents 45-6.
Southaven finished its season with a 22-5 record, entering the quarterfinals off a two-game sweep of 13th-ranked South Panola in the first round.
Baseball: Sullivan signs with Northwest Mississippi
Charley Sullivan of Oxford has committed to play baseball at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia.
Sullivan will pitch at Northwest, hoping to help the Rangers with his strong arm, clocked in the high-80s this past season.
Charley started four games for Oxford this season and made five appearances on the hill. He finished with 17.2 innings of work, striking out 16 and walking just five.
While signing with Northwest as a pitcher, Sullivan also aided Oxford’s baseball efforts this spring as a shortstop, hitting .397 with three home runs and 28 RBI. Charley also stroked 12 doubles, stole seven bases and scored 27 runs.
Boys Basketball: New coach for Quistors
Terry N. “Nick” Coln is the new boys basketball coach at Olive Branch High School. The Alcorn native comes to Olive Branch after coaching his alma mater last year to a 24-9 record.
Coln played at Alcorn Central and was Alcorn County’s all-time career leading scorer with 2,394 points, setting school records with 794 points and 119 3-pointers in his senior season. He had a school record 52 points in one game against Potts Camp.
Coln replaces Andy Orr, who was also the school’s athletic director.
Orr is leaving coaching and athletic administration to take a new position in the school district. Orr took the Conquistadors to a 30-4 record this past season and was eliminated by Provine in the state semifinals.
Orr’s career mark in is 261-113.
Boys Basketball: Provine standout commits to Georgia State
Emery Kelly of Provine says he’ll play college basketball at Georgia State under former Mississippi coach Rod Barnes.
Kelly averaged 16 points and six rebounds a game for the Rams, who lost in the Class 5A state finals. Kelly also played in the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star game and scored 21 points.
The 6-foot-6 senior will play for a Georgia State team that finished 12-20 in Barnes’ first season.
It is possible Kelly may not go to Georgia State immediately, as prep school is a possibility before enrolling in classes at GSU.
Girls Basketball: New coach at Gulfport
A new girls basketball coach has been selected at Gulfport, as Warren Central head man Donny Fuller has accepted the position pending school board approval.
Fuller was 377-202 at Warren Central. He coached there from 1981-1986, then returned in 1992 and coached until the end of this past season.
At Warren Central, he led the Vikes to seven district titles and 12 playoff appearances, including one state championship game appearance.
Golf: Center Hill wins state title
Center Hill has repeated as Mississippi Class II state girls golf champions. Center Hill went through the season undefeated and beat Biloxi in the state meet by 22 strokes. The tournament was held at Patrick Farms Golf Club in Brandon.
Esther Huffman, Kelsey Jones, Whitney Long and Ashton Peeler combined for the state championship, with Huffman taking second place in the individual race with a two-day total of 149. Ocean Springs’ Meagan Roberts was the individual medalist at the state meet.
