A ring for every finger: Jackson Prep claims fifth-straight MAIS State Baseball Championship with 12-2 win over MRA
FLOWOOD — The Patriots have made history.
With Graham Busby dealing on the mound, Jackson Prep put together three big offensive innings to race past rival Madison-Ridgeland Academy in a ten-run rule five innings to claim the MAIS Class 6A State Championship at Patriot Field on Thursday night.
It’s the Patriots (31-7) fifth consecutive baseball state championship and the first school in both MHSAA and MAIS to achieve that feat. It’s also Prep’s 21st baseball state title in school history.
“Feels good to do something no one else in the state of Mississippi has done," Jackson Prep coach Brent Heavener said. "So proud of these guys for how hard they battled, played and they put their stamp on Prep baseball and shows why this team is one of the best teams in the state. We came out back here last night and met and said 'We got a good ball team, we’re playing at home' and we knew we had to come out and battle, hit the ball like we’re capable of, then they couldn’t beat us tonight. Winning a state championship is a feeling that never gets old.”
MRA took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a RBI fielders choice by Corey Watkins.
After that it was all Prep.
The Patriots scored five runs in the bottom of the second to take a 5-1 lead on RBI single by Duncan Matthews, Cy Craig was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Eli Berch had a sacrifice fly, Trey Bridges an RBI double down the right field line and Rives Reynolds an RBI single.
Prep extended their lead to 8-1 in the third on a Craig RBI single, a run scoring single by Bridges and a throwing error.
The Patriots added three more runs in the fourth on a solo home run to left by Busbea and a two-run double by Craig.
Owen Abney hit a walk-off sacrifice fly to left in the fifth to secure the Patriots the 12-2 ten-run rule win.
Craig, along with Reynolds and Matthew Cochran, had two hits to lead Prep offensively. Busbea (6-0) was also the winning pitcher.
“It’s an awesome feeling and something you live for. Game 3 against your rival and to make history with the five-peat with the teammates is special,” Craig said. “ We knew coming back home that it’s tough for us to lose here and we came out with the intensity as Game 1 and it was successful. Our plan tonight was hunt fast balls and do damage and it worked.”
Pepper Heard took the loss for MRA. Kaleb Lipscomb had a RBI single to center in the fifth for the Patriots (36-6).
“I thought Busbea pitched a really good game for them and he what he had to do,” said MRA coach Allen Pavatte. “We had to piece things together pitching wise and they did a great job of responding after getting beat last night. We set a record for wins this year and I’m so proud of the guys for fighting.”
