An MHSAA 2A baseball opening round series between Bogue Chitto (17-12) and Scott Central (9-17) that began on Friday with the Rebels from Scott Central qout a close win at BC ended on Tuesday back at Bogue Chitto with a dominating 12-0 win for the Bobcats.

BC and coach Gareth Sartin will next face the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Saints (24-5) in the second round, with the Saints set to host the first game of the series on Friday in Ridgeland. BC will host game two on Saturday and if a third game is needed, it will be played at SAE on Monday.

Bogue Chitto made sure things would be over quickly on Tuesday as the Bobcats scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning to take control.

Leadoff batter, senior Noah Gatlin, got aboard as the first batter of the game for the Bobcats and eventually reached third after a double by senior Myles Foil. Foil was the 2023 Daily Leader All-Area Offensive MVP after leading the Bobcats in nearly every offensive category last season and has signed to play next season at Southwest Mississippi Community College.

Foil then scored on a single by Easton Sartin to put the Bobcats up 2-0. Sartin then scored later in the inning on a fielder’s choice. A sacrifice fly by senior Jax Leggett played another run later in the frame to put BC ahead 4-0.

Junior Noah Magee stole home after Leggett’s at-bat to put the Bobcats ahead 5-0. The final run of the first for Bogue Chitto, which led to a pitching change for Scott Central, came when Walker Brady hit a single that scored a runner from second.

Leggett and Foil each hit a double apiece and Tripp McCaffrey belted a home run for the home team. A sophomore right fielder, McCaffrey drove in a team high five runs. Sartin ahd two RBIS while Brady and Leggett had an RBI each.

BC only struck out twice in the four-inning game while getting seven hits and benefiting from three errors by the Rebels.

On the mound, Foil struck out five, walked three and gave up just one hit.

Scott Central might have thought they had the series won on Saturday, as they led 4-0 after three complete innings, but the Bobcats got two in the fourth, four in the fifth and an insurance run in the seventh to go ahead. In the field, the Bobcats committed six errors on Saturday in the 7-5 victory that extended the series.

Tucker Kyzer drove in two runs on Saturday and Sartin had an RBI as well to go along with a double. Sartin drew the start on the mound, going 3.2 innings and allowing four unearned runs on four hits. He struck out two and walked two. Gatlin was the hero in relief, striking out six in 3.1 innings and earning the win by allowing just two hits and one earned run. He walked one batter.

Scott Central threw their ace on Friday in the opener as pitcher Heath Rhodes struck out 10 Bobcats and gave up two earned runs on four hits. The game was tense and remained scoreless, until the final inning. SC scored three times in the top of the seventh.

Bogue Chitto responded with Sartin starting the seventh off with a double and then scoring on a home run by Kyzar that made things 3-2. Rhodes allowed one more runner, but got an out on the basepaths to end the game and give the Rebels the victory.

McCaffrey was outstanding on the mound in the opener, striking out 16 batters and giving up five hits and two earned runs.

SAE swept Collins in their first round matchup by 15-0 and 13-1 final scores. The Saints and Bobcats matched up twice this season, with St. Andrew’s taking both games. The Saints won 17-5 on March 19 at home and then beat the Bobcats 10-2 in Bogue Chitto on March 22.