centreville — Centreville Academy’s Hunter Devall and Cliff Hurst only needed an inning and a half to set the tone for Game 1 of the Tigers’ first-round playoff series with Trinity Episcopal School.

Devall started the game on the mound for the Tigers and struck out the first three batters Trinity sent to the plate.

The senior then led off the bottom of the first inning with a single up the middle. Randy Bell followed with a bunt single, and then Hurst blasted a three-run homer to give Centreville an early 3-0 lead.

With a three-run lead Devall took the mound again and allowed a single to Sky Logan to lead off the second inning. But then the Centreville ace struck out the next three Trinity batters to strand Logan at first.

Devall continued his dominance of the Trinity lineup, and Centreville spread out seven runs to capture the series opener 7-0.

Centreville head coach Jason Horne said he was pleased with his team’s play all around, but the home run really jump-started the Tigers.

“(The home run) was huge,” Horne said. “After that, we saw more enthusiasm. When they stepped on the field they knew they could win, and that set the tone.”

Horne said Devall’s performance was also a huge boost early.

“Hunter has been there all year,” Horne said. “And he really stepped it up tonight.”

Devall went five innings in the contest and allowed two hits while striking out eight batters.

Trinity head coach Mitch Ashmore said Devall was too tough for the Saints Tuesday night.

“I think we were overmatched,” Ashmore said. “We seemed to me to be overmatched when we got off the bus. He dominated us pretty much, and my hat’s off to him.”

Bell came in to close down the Saints in the final two innings of the game.

Centreville pushed its lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third inning when Bell reached on an error to lead off the inning and came around to score on an RBI walk by Corey Gaulden.

Bell finished the game 3-for-4 with three singles and three runs scored.

Centreville added three more runs in the fourth inning.

Gage Chandler led off the inning with a walk, and Bell drove him in with a single. Bell then scored on a pass ball, and Hunter Travis later scored on a single by Hurst. Hurst finished the game with four RBIs.

Trinity’s Jake Winston took the loss after giving up the home run to Hurst in the first inning. Winston, Daniel Dunaway and Quinton Logan each pitched two innings for Trinity.

Ashmore said each pitcher would be available for Game 2 Friday.

“We have everybody. All hands are on deck Friday,” he said.

Horne said it was big for his team to capture Game 1 of the series at home.

“We’ve got to win one Friday,” he said. “We have to be focused, hit the ball, field the ball and pitch the ball and take one from them.”

Game 2 is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday in Ferriday. If necessary, Game 3 will be played following Game 2.