Neshoba Central beats PRC 3-0 in Game 1

Starkville—Neshoba Central’s Aspen Wesley pitched a one-hitter with 18 strike outs to lead the Rockets to a 3-0 win over Pearl River Central in Game 1 of the Class 5A State Championship series at Nusz Field on the campus of Mississippi State University.

Pearl River Central’s Jade Latham pitched well scattering 9 hits and recording 5 strike outs and worked out of some tough situations to keep the game close.

Latham worked out of a bases loaded jam in the first and stranded a runner at second base in the third inning.

The Blue Devils made some great defensive plays behind Latham to keep the Rockets scoreless through the first three innings. Left fielder Taylor Kauzlarich ran down a deep fly ball on the warning track in the second, and centerfielder Madison Gower saved a run by catching a line drive in the left centerfield alley with a runner at second base with two outs in the third.

Head Coach Tony Labella talks after Game 1

Neshoba Central got their first run with two outs in the fourth. Rocket’s catcher Madelyn Thompson had a 10 pitch at-bat against Latham before earning a base on balls. Courtesy runner Hallie Billie moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored on a base hit to right field by Ellie Willis for a 1-0 lead.

Neshoba Central got two runs in the fifth using a leadoff double by Rivers Gray and a two out home run that hooked just inside the foul pole in left field to push the lead to 3-0.

The Blue Devils got two runners aboard in the fifth with one out, but Wesley got two strike outs to end the threat. In the sixth, the same scenario ended in the same way.

Pearl River Central (26-6) and Neshoba Central (33-0) will play Game 2 on Friday at 6:30pm. WRJW coverage starts at 6:15pm on radio (WRJW 1320 AM), wrjwradio.com, and the WRJW app.