Central Private wins fourth consecutive title

• By CHARLES SALZER
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: May 17, 2008 - Page: 6C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Closing out the Mississippi Private School Association’s Class 2A baseball championship took one swing of the bat Friday night.

Thomas Bourgeois launched a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift Central Private School to a 6-4 victory against Marshall Academy to finish off a two-game sweep in the best-of-three series.

Bourgeois’ shot capped a late-inning rally for Central Private, which trailed 4-0 through 3 1/2 innings. The Rebels tied the score in the bottom of the fourth and took advantage of Gage Wilkinson’s pitching to hold off Marshall.

“Its kind of been like that the whole postseason,” Central Private coach Jason Kinchen said. “These guys have been playing with heart and determination all year.”

The win gives Central Private (32-2) its fourth consecutive MPSA championship. CPS also won four straight championships from 1997-2000.

This title, the Rebels first with Kinchen and assistant Jami Longmire at the helm, was a showcase for the team’s resilience under pressure.

“You could see their kids during the game,” Marshall coach Jimmy Hicks said. “It’s 4-0 and they never panic. That’s tradition, and that’s where we’re trying to get this program.”

Marshall (22-8) made its first playoff appearance last season before advancing to this year’s finals. The Patriots took a 3-0 lead in the second as Wilkinson struggled with his control.

Justin Gray scored from third on a wild pitch, and Nick Tate delivered a two-run single to give Marshall an early cushion. Hunter Bolden led off the fourth with a home run to right, but it was Marshall’s final hit of the game.

“With a team like Central Private, no lead is safe,” Hicks said. “I would have felt safe maybe if we had 10 runs but not four. I knew it wouldn’t be enough.”

Wilkinson (8-0) settled down to retire 14 of the last 15 batters to close out the game. The one batter to reach, Wesley Harris, drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, and took third on a stolen base and an error.

But Wilkinson snagged Bolden’s line drive and doubled up Harris at third to end the threat.

“I haven’t done that a lot this season,” Wilkinson said. “I guess I was a little nervous, but my team got me some runs. I got back in my groove, and got back in the game and started throwing strikes.”