No. 6 Pearl River wins battle against No. 4 Jones

FULTON, Miss.— The No. 6 Pearl River Wildcats were in for a battle Wednesday when they defeated No. 4 Jones 4-2.

The win was PRCC's (37-12) first in the Region XXIII Tournament.

"One of the things we talked about today before the game was that we were not going to lose," PRCC coach Michael Avalon said. "There was no way these kids were going to lose today."

PRCC 4, JC 2

Jones (37-11) took an early lead in the bottom of the second inning plating a run on a ground out to take a 1-0 lead over the Wildcats.

The Wildcats broke through in the top of the fifth inning when Shemar Page (Raleigh) hit a two-run single to score Luke Harper(Meridian; Northeast Lauderdale) and Austen Izzio (Carriere; Pearl River Central) to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead.

Jones immediately responded in the bottom of the fifth inning plating a run to tie it up 2-2.

Dexter Jordan had two hits and played great defense for the Wildcats

The Wildcats did not take long to respond retaking the lead with an RBI single from Kasey Donaldson (Gulfport; West Harrison) make it 3-2 Wildcats.

Donaldson came up big again in the top of the eighth inning crushing a solo home run to put the Wildcats up 4-2.

"Kasey has been due for awhile," Avalon said. "We knew that coming in. He has had some tough luck but he kept working and it paid off today. We are glad he plays for us."

Page led the team with three hits while also tying Donaldson for the team lead in RBIs with two.

Donaldson and Dexter Jordan (Hattiesburg) also had two hits.

Jordan's play at the plate was overshadowed by his fielding at second base today as he made several tough plays to get outs for the Wildcats.

"Dexter was outstanding defensively today," Avalon said. "He made a lot of good plays. What I was most impressed with him today was that he started out 0-3 and finished the day with two big hits and that speaks to his toughness."

Miles Smith (Laurel; Northeast Jones) picked up the win on the mound for the Wildcats.

Smith pitched into the ninth inning allowing seven hits and one earned run while striking out four.

"I knew Miles was gonna throw well today," Avalon said. "I knew his preparation leading into today was phenomenal. He is a tough son of a gun. He deserved this win today. " \

Jerod Meggs (Kosciusko) closed the game for PRCC in the ninth inning inheriting two runners from Smith with no outs, but slammed the door shut on the Bobcats forcing a fielder's choice for the first out and striking out the next two batters to secure the win.

"The special thing is that Jerod helped Miles out in a high pressure situation," Avalon said. "Both of them stepped up today for us and that's why we were victorious today."

UP NEXT

The Wildcats return to action Thursday when they take on Northwest at 3:30 p.m. at Roy Cresap Field in Fulton.

The game will be live streamed at LetsGoICCTV.com.

Games will also be broadcast at WRJWRadio.come (click on the Wildcat).