Region 7-3A Bonus Coverage: South Gibson tops Bolivar to advance to region title game

 


Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

In a rematch of last year’s Region 7-3A Winner’s Bracket Semifinal which saw the Tigers upset South Gibson in 2024, the Hornets left nothing to chance on Friday in Newbern, rallying from an early deficit to take a 6-1 win over Bolivar in the Region 7-3A Semifinals at Dyer County High School.

In the bottom of the second, the Tigers took an early lead as Parker was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame then scored on a Bissett single to give Bolivar a 1-0 lead after two innings.


South Gibson’s answer was quick and decisive. Davis McKinney led off the third inning with a single then Brock Beasley singled him in to tie the game at a run apiece. After Tommy Baker was hit by a pitch and Gage Nesbitt helped his own cause with a single to load the bases, Beasley scored on a wild pitch which also allowed the other two runners to advance while giving the Hornets the lead. Cameron Alford followed with a sacrifice fly to put South Gibson on top 3-1 after two and a half innings.

Neither team was able to string much together over the next couple of innings before South Gibson picked up some breathing room in the top of the sixth. Jack Bradberry singled then McKinney was hit by a pitch two batters later. Beasley grounded into a fielder’s choice to plate a run. Baker, who homered to end a marathon battle with Crockett County earlier this week during the District 13-3A Tournament, nearly did the same. His flyout to right field was actually deep enough to score two runs and give the Hornets a commanding 6-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

The Tigers were able to get a single from Maxwell to lead off the frame and a two-out walk but a groundout ended the Bolivar threat to send the game into the seventh.


Bolivar was able to get out of the top of the frame after one-out singles from Jackson Isley and Alford, but the Hornets only gave up a one-out single from Bissett before claiming the five-run lead with a fielder’s choice.

Isley led the way at the plate for the Hornets with two singles as all seven South Gibson hits were base hits.

Nesbitt allowed one run on four hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings of work, needing just 80 pitches to do so.

South Gibson will face Dyer County in the Region 7-3A Winner’s Bracket Championship on Saturday at noon. The winner will claim the region championship as well as the right to host Class 3A Sectional play next week. The loser will move down to the consolation bracket and play the winner of the consolation bracket semifinal between Bolivar and Fayette-Ware (to be played at 3 p.m. Saturday) at 6 p.m. in the final game of the tournament. All games on Saturday will be played at Dyer County High School.

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