George County baseball drops opening game of 6A State Championship series to Saltillo, 4-3

George County fell just short in the first game of the MHSAA 6A Baseball State Championships, dropping a heartbreaker to Saltillo by a score of 4-3.

The team kicked things off early with a 6:30 first pitch, but it didn’t matter what time this game started… the Rebels were ready from the jump.

Leadoff and centerfielder Ben Davis reaches on a walk and stole second base. Right fielder Tripp Lightsey knowing exactly what he has to do with a runner in scoring position; he laces one right up the middle past the second baseman and Davis never stops running. He makes the turn around third and he’s home free! The Rebels score first thanks to an RBI single by Lightsey.

The Rebel ace is no stranger to the State Championship mound. Preston McAdory acting like this is his home turf, striking out not one, but two runners in the first inning.

Fast forward to the fourth inning, Rebels still leading 1-0… Cayler Havard leading off this time for the Rebels, and he sends one team into deep left field. It definitely would’ve been out at a high school field, but Harvard doesn’t mind settling for a standing double.

Next up to the plate is catcher Blane Green. He finds a gap right up the middle and rips one into no-mans-land, and on his high horse is Cayler Havard. Havard steps on the plate courtesy of Green’s RBI double and the Rebels are up 2-0.

In hopes of moving the runner, Brodie Cecchi bunts one perfectly towards the right of the catcher; he throws it to second but it’s not caught. Peyton Havard keeping his eye on the ball and he heads towards home as Green’s courtesy runner. The Rebels have improved to a 3-0 lead after four complete innings.

Saltillo refused to lay down, as they would go on to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings and then walking it off in the eighth with a single.

Hats off to the starting pitcher Preston McAdory. He dealt at the plate, throwing 105 pitches for nine strikeouts and one hit.

The Rebels will fight for their 2025 season Wednesday night at they face Saltillo again for game two at 7 p.m. Best of luck to George County as they continue their road to back-to-back titles!