Amory baseball sweeps to first MHSAA state title since 1999 with relentless offense, stellar pitching
PEARL — There was no way Amory baseball would let the MHSAA Class 3A championship series reach Game 3. The Panthers made sure it would be a sweep within the first two innings of Game 2 on Saturday at Trustmark Park.
Amory (28-5) — fresh off their 9-1 victory in Game 1 — throttled Seminary 11-1 to claim the program’s first state championship since 1999. Clayton Reese had a walk-off single down the third base line to clinch the title with a six-inning, run-rule victory. The senior went 2-for-4.
The Panthers, led by a five-run second inning, secured their third Class 3A title and avenged last season’s semifinal loss to Booneville.
"It's a team effort for us and it's a special group that gets after it day in and day out," coach Chris Pace said. "I've got five special seniors. It's going to be tough to replace those guys.
"It couldn't happen to a better kid at the end of the game. Clayton Reese, he's a special guy out there."
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Amory trailed 1-0 heading into the sixth inning in Game 1 then rattled off nine runs in the final two innings on Friday. The Panthers' bats stayed hot in Game 2 with an RBI single from Bo Rock followed by a sacrifice fly from Corbin Gillentine in the first inning.
Amory continued in the second with an RBI double from Will McComb and a two-run double from Walker Maranto.
"That was the biggest (thing) for us," Maranto said. "Being able to get that lead and we didn't take our foot off the gas. That's been coach Pace's thing all year. We get ahead and don't take your foot off their neck."
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The Panthers were clicking at the plate and Rock was dealing on the mound. Rock allowed two hits with three strikeouts. The Itawamba Community College commitment also went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Seminary got on the board in the fifth with a solo home run to right field from Eli McNease. It was the first home run in 11 games at the MHSAA baseball championships.
However, that was all Seminary (23-5) got off of Rock.
"He's Mr. 3A baseball," Pace said about Rock. "We give him a couple of runs and feel really good about it and that's special for a coach. When we played some teams throughout the playoffs that had that one guy, Bo was real good about keeping his composure. He's going to be very successful and has a bright future coming in baseball."
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Amory baseball wins first MHSAA state championship since 1999
