No. 2 Pearl River 'gets off the mat', secures fourth Region 23 crown

Dylan Dunaway - PRCC Sports Information Direction

POPLARVILLE, Miss. — In boxing, a knockdown is a setback — but it doesn't necessarily mean defeat. That proved true for No. 2 Pearl River baseball Saturday afternoon.

After the Wildcats took a gut punch and hit the mat last night at the hands of No. 5 East Central, the Wildcats answered the bell Saturday afternoon, drilling the Warriors 10-0 to capture the programs fourth Region 23 Championship and an automatic bid to the NJCAA Division II World Series in Enid, Oklahoma.

Additionally, the victory was PRCC's program-record 50th of the season. PRCC outscored the Warriors 36-7 across the three-game series.

"These guys were challenged to get off the mat last night, and they responded — they dominated," head coach Michael Avalon said. "These dudes behind me aren't perfect, but they're special. I'm so thankful for the people they are and the families they come from. I'm so proud of them."

As the Wildcats have done all season long, they awarded a set of boxing gloves to the game's standout player, and the winner Saturday afternoon was Jacob Johnson (Carriere; Pearl River Central). The right-hander celebrated his 19th birthday by firing seven innings of three-hit, one-walk baseball and punched out five along the way.

"It was a big game, and I had to do this for my teammates," Johnson said. "When the guys gave me some runs to work with, I had so much confidence, and it made pitching easier."

The World Series will be held at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Oklahoma, May 24-31. PRCC will find out its seed for the Tournament on May 20 at 3 p.m. on NJCAA.org/network.

No. 2 Pearl River celebrates with a dogpile following its Region 23 Championship victory over No. 5 East Central Saturday evening. (Grace Kesler/PRCC Athletics).

Pearl River (50-8) provided the first big blow of the game in the third inning. With the bases loaded, team captain Caston Thompson (Jayess; Brookhaven Academy) came through, ripping a two-run single over the head of the East Central (42-14) shortstop. A Topher Jones (Hernando) sacrifice fly added the third run and an error scored PRCC's fourth run, 4-0.

Three more big runs scored in the fifth. The Wildcats loaded the bases before an ECCC balk pushed across the first run and an error tacked on the next one. Jackson Hood (Madison; Germantown) turned in one of the most electric plays of the year to follow. Standing on third base, he waited for the throw to the pitcher from the catcher. As soon as the throw left the catcher's hand, Hood took off for the plate, sliding in feet first with a straight steal of home, 7-0.

The Johnson train kept rolling into the seventh frame of the day as the Auburn signee retired the Warriors for his seventh shutout inning of the day. His former high school teammate, Caleb Dyess (Carriere; Pearl River Central), threw quick 1-2-3 innings in the eighth to send the Wildcats back to the dish.

That's when Pearl River really put the game out of reach. A day removed from taking a hard ground ball off the face and looking like he may not get a chance to play, Jones put a charge into a baseball, hitting it deep over the left field wall for his 10th of the year. 

"Both my legs work and I can run, so I was doing everything in my power to play," he said. "It's not about me — it's about the team. This eye is nothing but a distraction, and I didn't let it distract me. I knew he would throw me a fastball, and I didn't miss it. This place has been the biggest blessing."

Jaxon Milam (Phenix City, Ala.; Glenwood Academy) walked immediately after. Hood provided the final haymaker, sending a 1-2 pitch deep over the wall in right center for his 12th home run of the year, 10-0.

The Wildcats turned to closer Carson Fair (Southaven) in the ninth. Although the fireballer gave up a leadoff single, he forced a fly-out, a strikeout and got the game's final batter to ground out to shortstop — sending the Wildcats out of the dugout in a frenzy for a celebration dogpile.

Jones led the way with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate. Thompson, Jones and Hood each drove in a pair of runs. Milam walked three times.

Johnson earned his 12th win of the season with seven innings of shutout baseball. He allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out five. Dyess punched out two in a scoreless frame, and Fair finished things off with one hit allowed and one strikeout. 

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