MINDEN, La. — The WCCA Rams could have easily folded their tents after Franklin Academy took a 12-10 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning in the third-place game at the MPSA District 6-A Tournament at Glenbrook School.

But just like Riverdale rallied to defeat WCCA a day earlier in the opening round of the tournament, the Rams did the same thing by scoring three runs to rally for a 13-12 win over the Cougars Tuesday afternoon to take third place and keep their season alive.

Lane McCarty led off the bottom of the seventh with a bunt single, stole second base and scored on a doubly by Cory Havard. Brandon Simon, who hit a key home run in the bottom of the fifth to get WCCA back in the game, was intentionally walked. Brennan Bush then moved both runners into scoring position by grounding out to first.

With one out and the game and the season on the line, George Davis stepped up as his double brought in Havard for the game-tying run and Simon for the game-winning run.

“Both teams were battling for their playoff lives. Franklin played extremely hard like us to continue their season,” WCCA head coach Ray Olive said. “It was a fans’ game and a heart attack game for the coaches.”

Sutton Olive and Simon, who both pitched well in the 5-4 loss to Riverdale, once again did all they could to keep the Rams in the game. Olive threw 57 pitches and Simon threw 63 pitches before Hayden Whetstone came in the sixth inning.

“That’s a lot to ask kids to throw that many pitches in consecutive games,” Olive said. “We hit the ball. We played a lot of small ball. A lot of these hits were bunt hits or moving the runners over.”

WCCA, which had 16 hits in the game, laid down two squeeze bunts that led to a couple of early runs — one during a three-run rally in the bottom of the first and another in the bottom of the third that tied the game at 4-4.

After Franklin Academy took a 6-4 lead in the top of the fifth inning, the Rams answered with a six-run rally in the bottom of the fifth for a 10-6 lead.

“We led off the fifth with four bunts in a row. Simon’s two-run shot was big for us,” Olive said. “The lead kept swinging back and forth.”

Simon also had a double and went 2-for-2 while McCarty and Havard each went 3-for-4 and Davis was 3-for-5 to lead the Rams’ offense.

The Cougars responded with three runs each in the top of the sixth and seventh innings for the 12-10 lead. They were led by Haring, who went 3-for-4 with a double and a home run.

With the win, WCCA (17-9) will play in a round-robin series against the third-place teams from Districts 4 and 5 at a neutral field on Friday. Coach Olive said he should find out today who those two teams are and where the games will be played. If it rains on Friday, the three games will take place on Saturday. This will determine the two wild-card teams for the Class A South State Tournament.

Trinity Episcopal 7, Prairie View 6

BASTROP, La. — The Saints nearly blew a six-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, but they held on to defeat the Spartans Tuesday afternoon in what was supposed to have been the first game of an MPSA District 3-AA varsity doubleheader.

But the second game wouldn’t have meant anything to either team, so it was cancelled – barely. Prairie View scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it a one-run ball game, but winning pitcher Parker Brumfield made sure it didn’t get any closer.

District champion Trinity (19-4, 10-1) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings of play before Prairie View got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. The Saints then scored two runs in the top of the fifth and one each in the top of the sixth and seventh before the Spartans made the game very interesting.

Brian Sanderson led the Saints at the plate by going 3-for-4 and Kent King had their only extra-base hit with a double. Will Spires and Alan Spires each went 2-for-3 with a double for the Spartans.

With the win and ACCS’ win over Riverfield in the first game of its varsity doubleheader, the Rebels clinched second place while Prairie View finished third in district play.

ACCS 13, Riverfield 10

ACCS 18, Riverfield 6

LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. — The ACCS Rebels knew they had to defeat Riverfield in order to make the MPSA Class AA South State Playoffs. And they did just that as they swept the Raiders to finish in second place.

“We knew we would have to take two games to reach the playoffs and we took care of business,” ACCS head coach Hunter McKeivier said. “Now we look forward to our first opponent, which is Brookhaven Academy.”

The first game of the best-of-three series between the Rebels and the Cougars, who finished second in District 4-AA, will be played next Tuesday.

Natchez High splits division doubleheader

JACKSON — Natchez High had to take on two Jackson area teams Tuesday in Division 6-5A action. The Bulldogs defeated Jim Hill in the first game 12-2 in five innings and then lost to Terry 13-3, also in five innings.

In the win over Jim Hill, Thomas Hughes pitched a one-hitter to pick up the win. Javon Washington went 2-for-4 with a triple and Giovanni Dent went 2-for-3 with a double.

In the second game, Natchez High had a 3-1 lead going into the third inning. That’s when the Bulldogs made error after error, allowing the host Bulldogs to take control of the game.

Natchez High finished the regular season with an 8-10 overall record and in second place in Division 6-5A with a 5-4 record. Head coach Charlie Williams said the Bulldogs will probably have to travel to take on a team on the Gulf Coast when the Class 5A South State Playoffs begin on April 24.

Centreville sweeps Bowling Green, clinches playoff berth

CENTREVILLE — In one of the most unbelievable turnarounds in recent memory, the Centreville Tigers clinched a spot in the MPSA Class AA South State Playoffs by defeating Bowling Green 11-1 and 9-3.

Centreville started the season 0-11, but turned its season around during district play. The Tigers are now 10-16 overall and finished in second place behind top-ranked Central Private with a 10-5 district record.

The two games were a showcase for a pair of eighth-grade pitchers for Centreville. In the first game, Cliff Hurst pitched a two-hitter and struck out seven batters. In the second game, Hunter Devall struck out 15 batters and allowed just three hits.

The big inning for the Tigers in the first game was the bottom of the second as they put up nine runs to take a commanding 10-1 lead. They added another run in the bottom of the fourth to 10-run rule the Buccaneers. Chase Wilkins and Kyle Brown each went 2-for-2.

In the second game, Centreville had a 9-0 lead after five innings. But Bowling Green made sure it would not be 10-run ruled again as it put up three runs in the top of the sixth. Brad Jelks went 3-for-4 with a double and Colby Lockwood also went 3-for-4.