Junior Rockets baseball wins championship

The Neshoba Central Junior High Rockets clinched the Central Mississippi Championship with a 2-0 win over the West Lauderdale Knights last Monday.

Leading up to the championship game, the Rockets secured a commanding 4-0 win against Quitman in the semifinals held at Southeast Lauderdale.

In the semifinal matchup, Maddox Mars took the charge by pitching four innings without allowing a hit and recording eight strikeouts. Kooper Smith came in for relief in the last inning and earned the save.

The Rockets entered the championship game seeking redemption after their sole loss of the season to West Lauderdale earlier in the year.

Hutt Rushing took the mound for the Rockets, delivering an outstanding performance allowing no opposing runners from reaching base throughout the game. 

The contest extended into extra innings, with Rushing tallying 10 strikeouts over six innings pitched.

In the top of the sixth, the Rockets capitalized on the extra innings rule, beginning with runners on first and second base. 

Corbin Smith blasted a line drive double to the fence bringing in two crucial runs and securing the win for the team.

Following the championship win, Coach Jones made the decision to promote eighth graders Rushing and C.J. Spencer to the junior varsity level for the remaining games of the high school season.