Photo Gallery: Warren Central vs. George County, Game 2

Published 11:21 pm Friday, May 24, 2024

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Warren Central's baseball team stands at attention for the national anthem before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series Friday at Trustmark Park. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Landon Hasty takes in the scene at Trustmark Park from the dugout before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central baseball player Ryan Nelson warms up before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County on Friday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Hayes Loper, center, laughs in the dugout before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County on Friday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

The Trustmark Park grounds crew waters down the infield dirt before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County on Friday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Umpires walk onto the field before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series Friday at Trustmark Park. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central baseball players Ryan Steed (28), Trace Hood (23) and Landon Hasty (26) warm up before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County. ALl three players will return for the 2025 season.(Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Dru Holdiness and Morgan Nelson greet each other in the stands Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series between Warren Central and George County Friday at Trustmark Park. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central baseball coach Randy Broome accepts the MHSAA Class 6A runner-up trophy after his Vikings lost 3-2 to George County on Friday in Game 2 of the state championship series. (Enrest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central baseball coach Derrick Dewald fills out a stat chart before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County on Friday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central baseball coach Jake Parker hits balls to his fielders during warm-ups before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County on Friday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Nathaniel Moore throws the ball during warm-ups before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County on Friday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Jacob Kealhofer catches a ball during warm-ups before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County on Friday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central baseball players hang out on the dugout rail before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County on Friday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central baseball player Ryan Nelson runs out of the dugout for introductions before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County on Friday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central baseball player Hayes Loper runs out of the dugout for introductions before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County on Friday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Landon Hasty (26) gets an elbow smash from teammate Cole Autrey during player introductions before Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series Friday against George County. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Conner Watkins turns away from an inside pitch during Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series Friday at Trustmark Park. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central catcher Jack Esparza checks his wristband for a sign during Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series Friday at Trustmark Park. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Brooks Willoughby throws a pitch during Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series Friday at Trustmark Park. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Ryan Steed tries to bunt during Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central fans watch Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series Friday at Trustmark Park. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

George County's Tripp Lightsey (3) celebrates with teammate Blane Green (1) after scoring a run in Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against Warren Central. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Maddox Lynch (9) celebrates after scoring a run in Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Ryan Nelson slides into third base during Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Ryan Nelson slides into third base as George County's Cayler Havard watches a throw sail over his head during Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central catcher Jack Esparza looks toward the dugout during a break in the action during Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series against George County. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Nathaniel Moore throws a pitch during Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series Friday at Trustmark Park. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central third baseman Maddox Lynch tries to tag George County's Alex Wade in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series. Wade was called safe on the play and went on to score the game-winning run. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central third baseman Maddox Lynch, left, reacts after George County's Alex Wade was called safe on a close play in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

George County players celebrate after beating Warren Central 3-2 on Friday to win the MHSAA Class 6A championship.(Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Brooks Willoughby (14) hugs teammate John Farmer after the Vikings lost 3-2 to George County in Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Maddox Lynch watches from the on-deck circle after the Vikings lost 3-2 to George County in Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Brooks Willoughby consoles teammate Maddox Lynch (9) after the Vikings lost 3-2 to George County in Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central coach Randy Broome puts a silver state runner-up medallion around the neck of Jack Esparza after the Vikings lost 3-2 to George County in Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A baseball championship series on Friday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's baseball team shares a moment of prayer after their 3-2 loss to George County in Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 6A championship series. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

PEARL — Warren Central’s magical baseball season came to an end Friday.

George County’s Canyon Reeves hit an RBI infield single in the top of the seventh inning to bring in the go-ahead run, and the Rebels beat Warren Central 3-2 to sweep the MHSAA Class 6A championship series.

George County (30-4) won its first state championship since 1997. It swept the series after also winning 3-2 in Game 1 on Wednesday.

“The only thing I ever ask them to do is hustle, compete and be a good teammate. When we can do that we’re going to put ourselves in an opportunity to win. Both games we had an opportunity to win and we came up short,” Warren Central coach Randy Broome said.

Despite the loss, Warren Central (19-13) enjoyed its best season in 20 years. It advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 2004 and the finals for the first time since winning its only state title in 2001. Five players have signed to play college baseball.

“It was a journey,” said senior second baseman Ryan Nelson, who has signed with East Central Community College. “I love all of my brothers. Love all of them like we’re blood. It was a long road. It was obviously a long road ahead of us. We got here, we gave it all that we had, we left it all on the field, for sure.”

Congratulations to the Vikings on an outstanding season. Please enjoy this selection of photos from Game 2 of the championship series, as well as our gallery from Game 1 on Wednesday.

About Ernest Bowker

Ernest Bowker is The Vicksburg Post's sports editor. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post's sports staff since 1998, making him one of the longest-tenured reporters in the paper's 140-year history. The New Jersey native is a graduate of LSU. In his career, he has won more than 50 awards from the Mississippi Press Association and Associated Press for his coverage of local sports in Vicksburg.

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