Photos by Brad Bridges
Story By Robert Wilson
Brandon won its first state baseball championship since 1967 with a 1-0 victory over Hernando to sweep the best of three series for the MHSAA Class 7A state championship series Thursday night before an estimated 4,000 at Trustmark Park in Pearl.
Brandon finished with a 25-12 record. Hernando, trying to win its first state title since 1966, finished 26-8.
Brandon scored the only run of the game in the top of the first inning. Junior shortstop and Southern Miss commitment Jay McQueen opened the game walked and moved to second on passed ball. He scored when junior third baseman and Meridian Community College signee Keith Forbes reached on an error with one out.
Brandon junior left-hander Jackson Clark allowed only five hits and had six strikeouts in his complete game shutout victory. He improved his record to 5-4. Brandon had two double plays in the middle innings to help Clark.
Hernando got the tying run on base in the seventh inning when senior catcher and Northwest Mississippi CC signee Hallis Lawson reached on a single. But Clark struck out senior shortstop and Mississippi State signee Topher Jones, then picked off the runner on first base and struck out senior pitcher-first baseman and Ole Miss commitment Luke Romine to end the game.
Hernando senior right fielder and Northwest Mississippi CC signee Tyler Sullivan had two hits.
