St. Martin run-rules Biloxi for first South State Championship in program history

JACKSON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) - For the first time in program history, the St. Martin Yellow Jackets are South State Champions.

Thanks in large part to a ten-run performance in the bottom of the first, the Yellow Jackets (27-7) run-ruled Biloxi 11-1 in five innings to punch their ticket to their first-ever appearance in the Class 6A State Championship Series.

“As soon as Leo caught the ball (to record the final out), it was all excitement after that. Just a rush,” St. Martin senior and PRCC signee Leif Moore said.

Leo Harris certainly left his mark on tonight’s game. The UAB signee smacked a three-run home-run in the first inning - the first home-run in his high school career - and gave up just one run in a complete-game performance on the mound.

“It’s something we’ve always dreamed of," Harris said. "You know, to work this hard, to get to where we are now is just an amazing feeling.”

The Yellow Jackets will now face the winner of DeSoto Central and Northwest Rankin on Wednesday at Trustmark Park for game one of the Class 6A State Championship Series.

“Just super excited for our guys, super excited for all that’s happened, you know, three years ago, to this...” said head coach Kary Bridges, trailing off as emotions got the best of him. “It’s special. It’s special.”

In Class 5A, Pearl River Central saw their season come to an end in the South State Championship series, falling 8-3 in game two to West Jones.

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