By Robert Wilson
Seventeen seniors on the Madison Central baseball team graduated last week at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, but they had some unfinished business this week several miles away at Trustmark Park in Pearl.
Those seniors finished it Saturday night, led by Addison Jayroe, Boggan Foster and Cam McCain.
Jayroe hit a two RBI home run and double and Foster and McCain combined to throw a two-hitter to lead Madison Central to a 5-1 victory over defending state champion Brandon in the deciding and third game of the MHSAA Class 7A state championship series before an estimated 1,500.
Madison Central, ranked No. 3 in Mississippi and No. 51 in the nation by MaxPreps entering this week, finished 27-8 and won its first state title since winning in 2021 when the Jaguars finished 34-2 and were ranked No. 1 in the country. Madison Central won its fifth state title in school history (2002, 2009, 2016, 2021 and this year).
Brandon, ranked No. 6 in Mississippi and No. 88 in the nation by MaxPreps entering this week, finished 24-14 and was denied its second consecutive state championship and third in school history (the other one was in 1967).
The game began at 3 p.m. but after the first inning there was a weather delay until 7:30 p.m.
Jayroe, a designated hitter who was named the series’ MVP, hit a two-run home run (his third home run of the season) over the left field fence for a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. He also hit a double in the fifth inning, and it led to a score by sophomore pinch runner Ryan Sandberg on senior left fielder Ryan Delaney’s single for a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning. Jayroe had five hits and three RBIs in the series.
Foster had a no-hitter until the fourth inning and allowed only one hit and no runs in 3 1/3 innings. McCain, a Hinds Community College signee, relieved Foster with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth inning, got out of the jam without allowing a hit or run. He retired the first nine batters he faced before giving up a single to Brandon senior first baseman and Copiah-Lincoln CC signee Jacob Chancelor with one out in the seventh inning.
Foster’s and McCain’s pitching performances were especially impressive to do it against the high-powered Brandon offense, which came into the game with a .326 team batting average and averaged eight runs per game and had scored 10 or more runs in four of its nine playoff games entering Saturday.
In addition, the Madison Central duo were pitching in the most pressure-packed, intense atmosphere on the biggest stage of their careers.
Foster – making his seventh start of the season -kept Brandon off-balance from the start and didn’t allow a hit until Brandon junior right fielder Tai Jones’ single in the fourth inning.
This wasn’t the first Game 3 that Foster had success in the playoffs. He allowed only three hits in six innings and no runs in a 8-0 victory over Desoto Central in the third and deciding game in the first round to keep the Jaguars’ season alive.
McCain – who came into this week with a team-high 13 game appearances, a 3-0 record, 3 saves, a sparkling 1.31 earned run average, 25 strikeouts and only 6 walks in 21 1/3 innings – was clutch under pressure, especially in the fourth inning. He got a fly out to short right field and a ground out fielder’s choice to retire the side after coming with the bases loaded.
Foster got the win and McCain got the save.
“This was by far the hardest but the sweetest,” said Madison Central coach Patrick Robey, who won his third state title in nine seasons as the Jaguars’ head coach. “They are all so close and just want to win. A different hero each game. Boggan is about as cool, calm, and collective as we have ever had in the blue and orange. He pitches like himself and never tries to be something he isn’t. So proud for him. Cam will catch in college but has certainly been an outstanding closer for us. Much like Boggan, he pitches to his strengths and that equates to winning high school baseball. I’m so glad these kids and their families got to experience this moment. What a journey.”
“Boggan and Cameron were just gutsy all night long,” Madison Central associate head coach and hitting coach Hunter Twitty said. “They did what we needed them to do and competed at a high level against a really good offense. To hold them to one run on just a few hits is a testament to those two guys and our defense behind them tonight. This team and group of seniors just got better and better all season long. We played our best baseball down the stretch and just found ways to get it done throughout the playoffs This has been a fun group to coach and our seniors led well for us all year long.”
“Going into the game, there wasn’t much nervous energy,” McCain said. “We had talked about how most teams don’t know when their last game is going to be, but we do. We were just going to go out there and have as much fun as we could and let the dominoes fall where they do. Coming into the game, I knew my defense had my back and all I had to do was throw it over the plate. The moment we won was surreal. All the emotions just rushed to the top and all I could think of was wait, we did it. The happiness and excitement are something I’ll never forget.”
Madison Central won Game 1 11-7 Thursday night when it scored nine runs in the second inning, highlighted by junior shortstop Ryder Busby had three RBI triple.
Brandon bounced back and won Game 2 4-3 Friday night when senior left-hander and South Alabama signee Jay McQueen pitched a complete game victory and had a two-run triple and scored the winning run on an error in the fourth inning.
