Harrison Central Sweeps Past Biloxi
LYMAN–The Harrison Central Red Rebels took advantage of a three run third inning highlighted by a two run homer by Jared Gates to defeat the Biloxi Indians 6-2 and advance in the MHSAA 6A baseball playoffs.
In the first, Derek Whitfield singled in Cody Brown to give Biloxi a 1-0 lead. Harrison Central answered when Michael Gilbert drove in Derrick Mount to tie the game at 1-1 after one inning.
Whitfield picked up his second RBI single in the third, driving in Craig Wilson to give the Indians a 2-1 lead.
Harrison Central pulled away in the bottom of the third. Derrick Mount led off with a single and scored on an RBI single by James Land. Two batters later, Gates hit his two run bomb to give his squad a 4-2 lead.
The Red Rebels added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth to secure the win.
Jordan Mata (4-3-1) took the loss for the Indians (20-8), going four innings striking out two and giving up four runs. Chris Wease (4-1) picked up the win for the Red Rebels (18-9), striking out seven in six innings of work. Mount pitched the seventh to secure the victory.
Whitfield led the Indians with two hits and two RBIs. Mount and Gilbert both had two hits for Harrison Central.
Harrison Central coach Pat Olmi believes his team has a real chance going forward in the playoffs. “We’ve got a pretty good team,” said Olmi. “We can throw two good guys on the mound, and they will keep us in the game. We swung the bat well the last couple of games, and we’ve played good defense all year. We’ve got a chance.”
That chance will come against the Petal Panthers, who defeated Oak Grove this weekend. Game one between the Panthers and Red Rebels will be Friday at Harrison Central.
