NATCHEZ — Trinity Episcopal’s baseball team left Huntington Field Friday evening with its first South State Championship after defeating Heidelberg Academy 3-0 to sweep the three-game series.

The win over Heidelberg advances Trinity to the state championship to face North State champion Winona Christian.

“Of course, it’s wonderful for us,” Trinity coach Mitch Ashmore said. “We worked hard all year long to get to this point. It’s a feeling you don’t get very often.”

Givonni Dent was the star of the game for the Saints.

He threw seven scoreless innings, only allowed one hit and struck out six batters to get the win.

Dent also went 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in two of the Saints three runs with a first-inning double.

“Dent was brilliant (tonight),” Ashmore said. “(With) his velocity and his heart and everything he gave for us.”

The Saints got all of the scoring done in the bottom of the first inning and rode their defense and the arm of Dent to the title.

After a fly out to lead off the game by Daniel Dunaway, Kent King singled and Jake Winston walked to set the stage for Dent’s double.

Dent came around to score when Heidelberg third baseman Tyler Jones misplayed a hard-hit ball by Trinity’s Sky Logan.

After that Heidelberg pitcher Cory Kitchen settled down and only allowed three more hits to the Saints.

“(Heidelberg) played a wonderful game, and their pitcher really battled,” Ashmore said. “Really for our guys, sometimes you have to scratch games out.”

Trinity’s defense was rock solid behind Dent to hold down the Rebels attack and the three-run lead.

The Saints did not make an error on 15 chances and only allowed two runners to reach second base.

In addition to King’s single and Dent’s three-hit effort, Sky Logan was 1-for-3 with a single. The Saints only tallied five hits in the game.

Ashmore said the Saints hit the ball hard but Heidelberg just made some good plays behind Kitchen to keep the Saints from extending their lead.

Trinity (22-3) will travel to Winona Christian 6 p.m. Tuesday for game one of the state championship series. Game two will be played 6 p.m. Friday at Huntington, with game three to follow, if necessary.