Porters Chapel Academy completed the first half of Vicksburg’s baseball championship doubleheader on Thursday. Tonight, St. Aloysius will try for the sweep.

For St. Aloysius game updates, click here

PCA won its third Mississippi Private School Association Class A championship since 2003 with a 5-1 victory over Bayou Academy. The Eagles won 19 of their last 22 games overall, and went a perfect 8-0 in the playoffs. They swept the best-of-three series from Bayou after winning Game 1 on Thursday, 4-2.

It was the first time in PCA’s three title runs that it went undefeated in the postseason, and also the first time the team was able to clinch the final series at home. PCA also won championships in 2003 and 2006, winning the last game on the road both times.

Bayou had won the last two Class A championships.

“It feels pretty dadgum good. When you win a championship, it’s a great feeling of accomplishment. It’s nice to know all the hard work pays off,” said PCA coach Randy Wright, in his 14th season at the school. “No way in the world this could get old. This is our goal every year, and no way achieving your goal could get old.”

For PCA catcher Josh Hill, the only member of this year’s team who was also on the 2006 championship team, it was especially sweet. Hill, a senior, was a freshman reserve the last time the Eagles went all the way.

“It feels awesome to win one for myself. I won one before, but I didn’t do a lot. I’m going to look at that ring and be the most satisfied person you know,” Hill said. “I’m going to be able to look back on it the rest of my life. I’m so glad I won it with these people, because these are the best-hearted people in the world.”

Among the several hundred fans on hand to celebrate PCA’s win were members of St. Aloysius’ baseball team, who hope to achieve the same thing tonight.

Earlier Thursday, St. Al beat West Union 6-0 in Game 1 of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 1A finals. St. Al can earn its first state championship since 1976 by winning Game 2 of the best-of-three series tonight at 7 at Trustmark Park in Pearl.

If the Flashes can pull it off, it would be the first time two Warren County schools have won baseball championships in the same season. It’s only the third time two county schools have even played for titles in the same year.

St. Al and PCA both reached the finals in their respective divisions in 1975, with St. Al winning and PCA losing. PCA and Warren Central got that far in 2001, with PCA losing again and Warren Central winning.

“I know the hard work it takes to be a state champion, and the work they’ve done at St. Al. We’re pulling for them 100 percent tomorrow, and would love to see them bring two state championships back to Vicksburg,” Wright said.

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Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com