Centreville advances to South State championship series

Published 1:29 am Saturday, May 1, 2010

MINDEN, La. — Brad Jelks allowed just four hits over six and one-third innings and Cliff Hurst hit two home runs as the Centreville Academy Tigers took care of the Glenbrook School Apaches 16-3 Thursday afternoon.

With the win, Centreville, ranked No. 6 in Class AA, swept seventh-ranked Glenbrook two games to none in their MAIS Class AA South State semifinal series.

The Tigers will take on top-ranked Brookhaven Academy in the Class AA South State Championship series. Game 1 of the best-of-three series will be at Centreville and will take place Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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The Cougars defeated No. 2 Central Private Thursday night 6-0 in the deciding third game of their series after losing to the Rebels 13-0 in Game 2 earlier in the day.

Senior Zach Sinclair had the first big hit of the game for the Tigers when he hit a grand slam home run in the top of the first inning and just like that it was 4-0. Even though that was plenty of run support for Jelks to work with, Centreville (21-9) was not done.

Hurst’s first home run of the game was a solo shot in the top of the fifth inning. The Tigers then put the game out of reach when they tacked on five runs in the top of the sixth for a commanding 10-0 lead.

However, Glenbrook (18-7) would not let Centreville 10-run rule them as the Apaches scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth off Jelks, who struck out five and walked three.

But the Tigers made sure there would be no late rally for the home team as they scored six runs in the top of the seventh, including a three-run home run by Hurst.

Jelks helped his own cause by going 3-for-5 at the plate. Hunter Travis went 4-for-5 with a double and Gage Chandler was 3-for-5 as Centreville finished with 16 hits in the game.