NATCHEZ — The Cathedral Green Wave baseball team fell to Smithville High School 6-1 today in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 1A State Championship.

Cathedral scored its only run in the bottom of the second. After Cathedral’s Pate Shirley led off the inning with a double, Brock Farmer singled Alex Weadock, who pinch ran for Shirley, over to third base. Jacob Jenkins hit a sacrifice fly to right field, and after Weadock outfoxed the right fielder by running halfway between home and third base, pretending to run back to third, Smithville’s Cole Williams tested his arm by throwing to third base. Weadock took advantage and crossed home plate.

Cathedral head coach Craig Beesley said Thomas Garrity would start Game 3 despite not being fully recovered from Monday’s 1-0, seven-inning outing against Stringer High School. Beesley knows it’s critical for Garrity to continue his 20 scoreless-inning streak in the early goings of the contest, but it’s even more crucial for the Green Wave bats to come alive.

“He’ll give us a chance to win, but if we don’t put runs on the board, we’re not going to be victorious,” Beesley said.

Game 2 begins at 10 a.m. Thursday at Trustmark Park in Pearl. Check back with The Natchez Democrat for live coverage of Thursday’s game.