GRENADA — Starkville High School freshman Austin Campbell really delivered for the Jackets.
Campbell threw a complete-game shutout in Starkville’s 3-0 win over Grenada in the opening game of a best-of-three series in the play-in round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A playoffs.
Starkville (14-12) can clinch the series with a win at 6 p.m. today at home.
Rashon Tate and Tyler Barnes each had RBI-singles in a three-run third inning for the Yellow Jackets.
The first 50 SHS students in attendance tonight will receive free t-shirts and pizza.
n Caledonia 2, Itawamba Agricultural 0, 11 innings: At Fulton, Alex Spears’ single with two out in the top of the 11th inning lifted the Confederates (14-11) in the opening game of a best-of-three play-in series in the Class 4A playoffs.
Game 2 has been moved up to 5 p.m. today.
Logan Suggs singled in the 11th. The Confederates attempted a sacrifice to move Suggs to second and wound up with runners on third and first with one out.
With two outs, Spears came up with what Caledonia coach John Wilson called a “42-hopper up the middle” to score the only runs.
Spencer Unruh earned the victory with 2-2/3 innings in relief.
He allowed two hits and struck out four. Caledonia pitchers allowed only six hits.
Todd Giles started and allowed four hits in 7 1/3 innings. He walked five and struck out seven.
Jorden Hollowell recorded two outs in the eighth to escape a jam. Zach O’Neal also recorded an out before giving way to Unruh.
Suggs and Cole Gullette had three hits for the Confederates.
n Sacred Heart 13, West Lowndes 8: At Ellisville, the Crusaders scored five times in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the win in the opening game of a MHSAA Class 1A best-of-three play-in round series.
The teams meet again at 6 tonight in Columbus.
Nicholas Gallardo went the distance with 15 strikeouts for Sacred Heart.
West Lowndes built an early 5-1 lead but could not hang on for the win.
n Pine Grove 6, Hamilton 1: At Ripley, Dalton Morrow threw a complete-game three-hitter as the Panthers beat the Lions to open their best-of-three MHSAA Class 1A play-in round series.
The teams play again at 6 tonight in Hamilton.
n Starkville Academy 9-12, Pillow Academy 2-0: At Starkville, Luke Templeton threw a five-inning perfect game as the Volunteers completed a doubleheader sweep of the Mustangs.
Starkville Academy improved to 22-7 overall and 12-6 in district play while clinching the No. 2 spot for the Class AAA, Division II playoffs.
Templeton struck out eight in the five-inning win.
Ben Moorehead had two of the Volunteers’ eight hits. John McReynolds had three RBIs, while Houston Clark and Colt Chrestman each had two.
Winning pitcher Caleb Griffin pitched a five-hitter, with six strikeouts and one walk in the opener.
In this contest, the Volunteers had 11 hits. Harper Arnold had three hits, while Drake Gordman, Clark and Landen Rogers each had two hits. McReynolds had two RBIs.
n Jackson Academy 4-6, Heritage Academy 3-4: At Jackson, the Raiders completed a three-game regular season series sweep of the Patriots with two narrow wins.
With Starkville Academy’s win over Pillow Academy, Heritage Academy was eliminated from playoff consideration.
In the opener, Hunter Sykes allowed seven hits in seven innings of work, with nine strikeouts. The Patriots were unable to overcome an early 4-0 deficit. Brandon Jones and Sykes each had RBIs.
In the nightcap, Heritage Academy was plagued by six errors. Sykes had three hits, while Tyler Anderson had two RBIs for the Patriots.
Softball
n Pickens Academy wins twice: The Pickens Academy won two games Thursday in the region tournament to earn a No. 1 seed for the Alabama Independent School Association Class AA State tournament.
Shelby Lowe pitched a complete-game five-hitter to lead Pickens Academy to a 4-0 victory against Marengo Academy. She struck out nine and walked none.
Lauren Duckworth was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, Kacy Noland had a triple, and Abigail Colvin and Kristen Lowe also had hits.
Pickens Academy also defeated Russell Christian 3-2 in eight innings.
Noland allowed two unearned runs on six hits. She struck out five and walked none.
Noland was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, Anna Cockrell had a triple and scored a run, Colvin had a hit, scored a run, and had the game-winning RBI, and Allison Latham and Lizzie Shirley had hits.
Pickens Academy will play host to Central Academy at 4 p.m. Monday.
n MHSAA playoffs: In the opening game of the play-in round of the MHSAA playoffs, area teams struggled Thursday night.
West Point dropped a 10-1 decision at home to Germantown. Starkville dropped a 16-2 decision at home to Hernando.
Caledonia dropped a 15-6 decision to Amory at home.
Each of those series will continue with the local team playing on the road tonight.
However, Hamilton did pull out a win, taking an 8-2 victory at Wheeler. That series resumes at 5:30 tonight in Hamilton.
Girls Golf
n New Hope, Caledonia finish first, second at district golf tournament: The Lady Trojans and Lady Confederates shot and 85 and a 108 Thursday to finish first and second at the Class 5A tournament at Green Oaks.
Belle Keopraseut shot a 40 to earn medalist honors. Mary Grace Caldwell carded a 45 and Taylor White shot a 48.
West Point shot a 114 and Oxford carded a 121.
New Hope and Caledonia will advance to play in the state tournament on May 4-5 at Kirkwood in Holly Springs.
This is the first year Caledonia High has had a girls golf team. Freshmen Avery Pool and Claudia Garcia and sophomore Jensen Reed are on the team.
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