6A: Petal Panthers (30-4, 8-2) def. Madison Central Jaguars (31-4, 7-2)
Note: This is a continuation of my reports on the MHSAA Baseball Championships, played May 25-29 at Trustmark Park in Pearl. I broadcasted all 14 games, and the storylines were far too good to not share beyond the airwaves. Below you will find a writeup on the series, quick box scores, and links to PDF files of my scoresheets used during the broadcasts.
The biggest schools, the biggest crowds, and the most exciting series. A rematch of the then-5A championship of 2009, Petal survived a potentially devastating Game 2 collapse to deny Madison Central a second consecutive state championship.
Game 1, the finale of Day 2 at Trustmark Park, drew over 2,000 fans who witnessed a pitcher’s duel under the lights. Taylor Byrd, the senior southpaw for Petal, tossed one of the best games of the championships – a 2-hit, 1-run, 10-strikeout complete game win against a prolific MC offense that had belted 9 home runs in six playoff games entering the series. They would not leave spacious Trustmark Park a single time over three games against the Panthers. A pair of 10th-graders led young Petal to victory. Catcher Tyler Graves’ 5th-inning RBI single brought in fellow sophomore star Anthony Alford to score the eventual game-winning run. With the tying run at first base, Byrd struck out Jaguar pinch-hitter Spencer Turnbull to preserve the 2-1 win.
In Game 2, the previously unhittable Jaguar submariner LJ Hollins was pounded for 5 runs in 2 1/3 innings. The Panthers struck for 4 runs in the 2nd, including a 2 RBI single by nine-hole hitter Taylor Guyse. Down 5-0 entering the 4th, Madison Central would respond with a 4-run frame of their own, highlighted by a Parker Harrison 2 RBI double, chasing starter Brandon Smith from the ballgame. Cody Conkle and Josh Laxer would pitch shutout ball for their respective teams, but as the bottom of the 7th approached, and Petal 
was three outs away from a sweep and a 6A championship, legendary coach Larry Watkins brought the Game 1 ace out the bullpen to close. This time, Taylor Byrd couldn’t get it done, issuing a leadoff walk to Alex Collom, who stole second base and scored on a Brayden Jones base hit. Jones took a free bag as well, and after advancing to third on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Bolden, scored the game winning run on a wild pitch that catcher Tyler Graves never had an opportunity to stop. The Jaguars had battled back from the edge to force a deciding Game 3.
The finale of this series would also be the finale of the championship week as a whole. Played on Memorial Day-Saturday, the game occurred just one day after Petal’s graduation and mere hours after the large majority of the Madison Central starters had received their diplomas. The change from cap-and-gown to cap-and-jersey did not go smoothly for the Jaguars, many of whom confessed after the game to being more than a little distracted by such a monumental event in their lives occurring earlier in the day. There was even a limousine waiting outside the ballpark for a few of the MC seniors, reserved to help celebrate graduation and a state 
championship. In all of the talk about the long wait to play the championship round at Trustmark Park, which had been occupied by the Mississippi Braves for the previous 10 days, conflicts with graduation ceremonies never came up. You can bet they will before next year’s championships are scheduled.
Having thrown only two-plus innings in Game 2, Madison Central Coach Gregg Perry decided to throw Southern Miss signee LJ Hollins for consecutive starts, rather than pitching Brayden Jones on short rest. Hollins, whose season ERA was 0.94 
entering the series, would get shelled again, and end the season with an earned run average of 2.48, more than a run-and-a-half higher. This time, he lasted only 1+ innings, giving up four runs. Hollins walked the bases loaded in the 1st, before Brandon Smith delivered a bases-clearing double, part of the four-run inning. Hollins total line at Trustmark Park? 3.1IP, 9H, 9R, 4BB, 4K, 2HBP, good for an ERA of 24.32. This time, Josh Laxer would not be able to put out the fire. Instead, the Panthers struck for an 8-run 3rd inning, the second-most runs scored in any frame over the championship week. Eight straight Panthers reached base and scored in the inning which saw 11 come to the plate. Madison Central did not surrender, picking away at the lead throughout, scoring runs in each of their next three at-bats, but it would not be enough, as Smith came out of the bullpen to shut the door and clinch the 6A championship for Petal in front of almost 2,500 fans.
It was championship number five for Larry Watkins in 30 years as Petal’s head baseball coach – a fistful of rings for the man with a career winning percentage of 78%. The Panthers showed their pitching prowess in Game 1, their resiliency by bouncing back from the Game 2 letdown, and their ability to swing as they pounded out 15 hits in the series clincher. They also showed plate discipline throughout, drawing 15 walks in the series, including 8 in the deciding Game 3. Six of those eight walks turned into runs, putting the game out of reach. It is a Petal team with only three graduating starters – Byrd, Guyse, and shortstop Chase Toussaint. The Panthers will surely be the favorites in 6A next season and could be building a dynasty in the Pine Belt, hoping to earn Coach Watkins another hand worth of rings.
Game 1 R H E LOB
Madison Central 1 2 1 4
Petal 2 6 1 6
WP- Taylor Byrd (9-1): 7.0IP, 2H, 1R, 3BB, 10K (ret. 12 straight, 3rd-7th)
LP- Brayden Jones (10-1): 6.0IP, 6H, 2R, 5BB, 9K
PET- Cody Conkle: 1-3, 2B, R; Jacoby Langley: 2-3, 2 1B, RBI
MC- Josh Crowder: 1-2, 3B, BB, R
Madison Central 6-9 (Harrison/Parks/Goodspeed-Turnbull/West): 0-10, 6K
Game 2 R H E LOB
Petal 5 9 2 7
Madison Central 6 7 2 6
WP- Josh Laxer (6-1): 4.2IP, 3H, 0R, 1BB, 5K
LP- Taylor Byrd (BS, 9-2): 0.1IP, 1H, 2R, 1BB
MC- LJ Hollins: 2.1IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 1BB, 2K, 2HBP (ND); Brayden Jones: 2-4, 2 1B, SB, GW R; Parker Harrison: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI
PET- Brandon Smith: 4.0IP, 5H, 4R, 3ER, 4K, 2HBP (ND) – RBI 1B; Cody Conkle: 2.0IP, 1H, 0R, 1K (H) – 2-3, 2B, 1B, 2R, HBP; Taylor Byrd: 2-3, 2B, 1B, RBI, HBP; Taylor Guyse: 2 RBI 1B, R
Notes: Petal led 5-0 in 4th; Game ended on Byrd wild pitch, allowing Jones to score.
Game 3 R H E LOB
Petal 15 15 1 5
Madison Central 7 15 1 9
WP- Cody Conkle (8-0): 4.1IP, 12H, 7R, 0BB, 3K
LP- LJ Hollins (8-1):1+IP, 3H, 4R, 3BB, 1K
PET- Brandon Smith: 2.2IP, 3H, 0R, 1K – 2-5, 2B, 1B, 4RBI, 2R; Taylor Byrd: 1-1, 3B, 4BB, 2 RBI, 3R, SB; Jacoby Langley: 2-4, 2 1B, BB, 2 RBI, 2R
MC- Josh Laxer: 1.1IP, 5H, 6R, 2BB; Spencer Turnbull: 3.2IP, 6H, 5R, 3BB, 7K – 2RBI 1B; Ryan Bolden: 3-4, 2 1B, 2B, R; Parker Harrison: 2-4, 2 1B, 2 RBI; Stanford Parks: 3-4, 2 2B, 1B, R
Notes: Petal scored 8 runs in 3rd; Every Petal starter scored at least one run, seven of nine had at least one RBI; Game delayed by lightning for 43 min. in Bot. 5th.
Petal Three Stars
1. Cody Conkle – 3B, P
2. Taylor Byrd – P, RF
3. Brandon Smith – P, DH
Madison Central Three Stars
1. Brayden Jones – P, 3B
2. Josh Crowder – SS
3. Parker Harrison – 1B
Game One Scoresheets
Petal, Madison Central
Game Two Scoresheets
Petal, Madison Central
Game Three Scoresheets
Petal, Madison Central
* Scoresheets were for my personal broadcasting purposes. They may not be completely accurate.
