53-minute, 17-run third inning powers No. 2 Pearl River past No. 5 East Central

Dylan Dunaway - PRCC Sports Information Director

POPLARVILLE, Miss. — In one of the most dominant postseason showings in program history, the No. 2 Pearl River baseball team eclipsed the 20-run mark to demolish No. 5 East Central 22-1 in five innings, moving PRCC within one game of capturing a Region 23 Championship and a bid to the NJCAA World Series.

The outburst was powered by a third inning that lasted just south of an hour, at 53 minutes — and saw 17 runs cross the plate. The 22 runs were the most East Central has given up since the Wildcats beat the Warriors 22-17 on March 23, 2022. It was also the most runs the Warriors have lost by since getting beat 26-7 by Itawamba on April 15, 2019. Additionally, Pearl River tied the program record with its 49th win of the season.

"I knew we were ready to play. There was never a question about that. The focus we have right now is special," head coach Michael Avalon said. "This group continues to persevere and fight for a crown. We're going to show up tomorrow and hope we're blessed with a win. 

"We have to move on to tomorrow. We have to show up and be ready to play. East Central is going to bounce back. They're a good club."

East Central (41-13 overall) made things interesting in the first inning, getting to the Wildcats (49-7) for an early run, 1-0.

In need of a response, Pearl River went to work in the bottom half of the inning. With Keegan Giger (Petal) standing on third base, Caston Thompson (Jayess; Brookhaven Academy) drove a sacrifice fly into right-center to even the scoreline up. A few batters later, Jaxon Milam (Phenix City, Ala.; Glenwood Academy) flipped the game upside down. The South Alabama transfer fought off seven pitches before blasting the eighth the other way and over the wall for a three-run homer, sending PRCC ahead 4-1.

"There was no way I was getting out in that moment," Milam said. "I knew what was on the line. I knew I had to step up for the team. The good Lord blesses us with things when we stick with it. I wasn't trying to do too much tonight."

Starting pitcher KK Clark (Brandon) returned to form in the second and third innings, allowing just one baserunner across both frames to send the Wildcats back to the plate for what became one of the most impressive innings in PRCC baseball history. Over the next 53 minutes, Pearl River sent 23 batters to the plate and scored an unbelievable 17 runs in the bottom of the third inning to take an incredible 21-1 lead over the Warriors. 

The frame began with a bloop single into right field by Milam for two runs. The Wildcats went on to load up the bases, and Ethan Garner (Gulfport) picked up an RBI the hard way, getting hit by a pitch. The Warriors went to the bullpen, which made the Wildcats call on Chap Cook (Canton; Canton Academy) from the bench. The freshman jumped on a first pitch fastball and sent a laser out of the ballpark for a grand slam, 11-1.

"I didn't have much time to prepare," Cook said. "They told me to grab a bat and go do damage. I knew they'd throw me a fastball first pitch, and I jumped on it."

Two Warrior wild pitches added another pair of runs to the Wildcat count before Milam returned for an RBI single, and Jackson Hood (Madison; Germantown) hit one of his own, 13-1. The Wildcats went back to the bench again — this time calling on Nico Williams (Gulfport). In identical fashion to Cook's long ball, Williams blasted a first-pitch three-run homer, 16-1. Two passed balls and a wild pitch tacked on two more runs, 21-1, to cap the scoring in the inning.

PRCC was forced to make a pitching change with Clark in the dugout for so long, bringing in Landon Watts (Picayune). The right-hander got into a little trouble but induced a 4-6-3 double play and a groundout to end the inning.

The Wildcats scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, turning a Connor Dyess (Carriere; Pearl River Central) walk into a Giger sacrifice fly, 22-1.

AJ Hansen (Mobile, Ala.; McGill-Toolen) threw the fifth inning for the Wildcats and worked around two singles by getting a double play and a groundout to end the contest 22-1 in five innings.

Milam finished 3-for-3 with a team-high six RBIs. Jones finished 2-for-2 with a pair of walks. Cook and Williams each made their lone hit count with home runs. Cook had four RBIs and Williams finished with three.

Clark earned his 10th win of the season with three innings of one run baseball. He allowed one hit and one walk. Watts and Hansen each threw a scoreless inning to end things.

Pearl River will look to finish off the best-of-three series tomorrow at 5 p.m. to punch its ticket to Enid, Oklahoma.

All home Pearl River baseball games are livestreamed for free at PRCCMedia.com/Gold. Fans with Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch the Wildcat broadcasts by downloading the "Pearl River CC" channel from their app stores.

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