The Centreville Academy Tigers spoiled the Brookhaven AcademyCougars’ dreams of repeating as the MAIS state champions Thursdaynight as the Tigers eliminated the Cougars from the playoffs with a9-3 victory in a deciding game three of baseball action.

“We did not make enough plays to win,” said Brookhaven Academycoach Casey Edwards. “You cannot expect to win a game if you giveup as many free bases as we did.”

The Cougars tied the series at one game apiece earlier with 10-6win over the Tigers in game two of the playoffs to force thedeciding game.

Centreville (25-7) will advance to play for the South StateChampionship next week as they prepare to face the winner of theCentral Private/River Oaks series.

The Cougars concluded their season with a 15-8 worksheet and weresuccessful in defending their division crown in 4-AA with a 6-2record.

“The guys played hard all season long,” continued Edwards. “Theyshowed great leadership in each game and the future looks bright aswe prepare for next season.”

BA 10, Centreville 6

The Cougars looked eager to defend their state title as they cameout and capitalized on the Tigers’ mistakes, hit batters and walksthroughout the game. Centreville battled hard in the game as theyfought hard to make it a close game. The Tigers were successful asthey managed to cut BA’s lead to 7-5, until the bottom of the sixthinning when Hunter Franklin smashed a 3-run homer to left field toincrease the Cougars lead to 10-5 before going into the finalinning.

Gage Posey was the winning pitcher as he went the distance for theCougars, collecting eight strikeouts, four walks, and two hitbatters. Colby Shaw was the starting pitcher for the Tigers andabsorbed the loss with one strikeout, one walk and two hit battersin two innings of work. Cliff Hurst (2K, 5BB) and Corey Gaulden(0K, 1BB) pitched in relief for game two.

Franklin was the offensive leader for the Cougars with a home runand a single. Posey hit a two-run homer in the second inning.

Gage Chandler was the leader on offense for the Tigers with twosingles. Hitting safely were Hunter Travis, Hunter Devall, TylerTowels, Cliff Hurst, Randy Bell, Chance Humphreys and JonathanSpivey.

“Our pitching was off majorly,” said Centreville coach Jason Horne.”Our guys did not quit. They kept battling hard and played gooddefense.”

Centreville 9, BA 3

The Tigers quickly looked to rebound after a tough loss and battledhard to seek redemption in the deciding game. The Cougars quicklyhad something to say about that and answered first in the firstinning with two runs, but BA went cold afterwards.

Centreville’s bats finally came around in the third inning as theTigers scored two runs. Centreville added more in the fourth, sixthand seventh to secure the win.

Bell was the winning pitcher for Centreville as he threw fiveinnings, collecting one strikeout and one walk. Devall, the winningpitcher from Monday’s game one, came in as the closer for theTigers in the final two innings and collected four strikeouts andone walk.

Bubba Keene suffered the setback for BA with four strikeouts andfive walks.

Devall provided the offensive charge for Centreville with twodoubles. Hurst belted a double. The Tigers got singles from Travis,Towels, Bell, Humphreys, Chandler and Spivey.

“We played a lot better in the deciding game,” said Horne. “I wasvery proud of the guys’ effort to play team ball.”

Senior third baseman Hunter McCullough was the offensive spark forthe Cougars with a home run and a double. Keene hit a double.Hitting safely were Austin Travis, Caleb Dunaway and Posey.