PEARL – The final high school game for Porters Chapel Academy’s Michael Busby and Hayden Hales ended in a 7-7 tie.

The two Eagles played for the South in the Mississippi Private School Association’s Class AA-AAA All-Star game Friday afternoon at Trustmark Park.

Busby drew the starting nod as the South’s pitcher and went two innings before heading to shortstop. Hales played six innings in left field. The game was called after 10 innings by mutual consent of the coaches and the MPSA.

The end result was not important for either of the Eagles.

&#8220This was a lot of fun. The best thing was getting to be around all these guys. I wouldn’t trade that for anything,” Busby said.

Hales had an interesting two days rooming with Central Private’s Matt Creel. Creel’s team beat the Eagles in the second round of the Class AA playoffs and then went on to claim the state title two weeks later.

&#8220He’s a good baseball player,” Hales said of Creel, who was named the South’s MVP after pitching two innings and knocking Busby with an RBI double in the first inning.

&#8220The subject did come up about the playoffs,” Creel said with a smile. &#8220It was interesting rooming with Hayden. They (PCA) definitely gave us our toughest game in the playoffs.”

This was the second MPSA all-star game for Hales during his senior season. He played in the football all-star game back in December.

&#8220This was fun, but I liked the football game better because we had a week to be together. We only had two days for baseball,” Hales said. &#8220I wished I had played better. I don’t deserve to be (drafted) after what I did today.”

Hales had an error in the 10th inning but South reliever Ethan Burt got the team out of the spot, sending the tie game to the bottom of the 10th.

North reliever Logan McDowell set the South down in order to end the game tied at 7.

Busby’s pitching performance started off with a pair of wild pitches but he settled down, retiring six of the seven batters he faced. He struck out two and hit two batters.

&#8220It’s been a while since I’ve pitched, but I settled down and I liked what I did pitching. I would’ve liked to have hit better,” said Busby, who finished 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

Busby, a Mississippi State signee, won’t get to see the Bulldogs this weekend as they try to close out Clemson in the NCAA Super Regionals.

&#8220I’m going to Memphis to play for the Mississippi Stars this weekend. It’s Terry Porter’s team out of Jackson. We’ll play all over the place.”

Busby said he wants to use the summer to prepare for his first fall with the Bulldogs.

&#8220The coaches at State have said they need infielders. So I’ll work at short, third base and as a closer,” he said.

Hales will also play for the Stars but he hopes to lock up a football and baseball scholarship next week at Itawamba Community College.

&#8220I’m going to check it out next week. If I like the campus and everything, that’s where I’ll go to play football and baseball,” said Hales, who finished with one hit in four at bats.