Centreville wins back to back titles

Southern Sports & Travel

The defending Class AA State Champion Centreville Tigers knew at the beginning of the season that they would have a target on their backs after coming off a 29-9 2011 campaign. After gutting out a come from behind eight inning game one win over Marshall on Tuesday night the Tigers left little doubt that they are one of the premier squads in the MAIS with a 4-0 shutout over Marshall in Holly Springs last night to capture their second consecutive state title.

Centreville senior Cliff Hurst hurled a two hit complete game shutout and belted a third inning solo home run and seven Tiger hitters notched base hits on the night.

Centreville's Cliff Hurst (#10) rounds third base after a solo homer in the 3rd inning

Centreville grabbed an early lead on second ranked Marshall.

Marshall starting pitcher Evan Hickman walked lead off batter Hunter Travis and Randy Bell punched a 2-1 single to right field to advance Travis into scoring position at third. Travis would give Centreville a 1-0 lead when a Cliff Hurst infield grounder was mishandled. Hickman minimized the first inning damage with consecutive strikeouts of Tyler Towles and Chance Humphreys.

Centreville stretched their lead to 2-0 in their half of the third inning as Cliff Hurst sent a 3-0 Hickman pitch over the right field wall.

The defending state champions added two runs in the fifth inning.

Randy Bell reached base on a Marshall error and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Hunter Devall. Cleanup hitter Cliff Hurst drew an intentional walk and the bases were loaded on a Tyler Towles infield hit with one out. Chance Humphreys brought Bell home with a deep centerfield fly out to put the Tigers up 3-0.

Centreville junior Randy Bell (#22) grabs a lead before eventually scoring in the 5th inning

Centreville’s Mark Curry scored the Tiger’s fourth run of the contest as the sophomore alertly took home from third base while pinch runner John Marcus McDowell was caught up in a rundown between first and second base.

Marshall hitters had no answer for Hurst on the mound. The senior walked the first batter he faced but then retired 15 of the next 16.

Hurst carried a no hitter into the fifth inning until Tyler Cook’s two-out bloop single produced Marshall’s first hit of the contest. Hurst quickly halted any Marshall hopes of a rally as the right-hander forced Dakota Dailey into a third out grounder.

Hurst (photo left) closed out the deciding game two victory by retiring 7 of the last 8 Marshall batters. Aaron McAlexander recorded Marshall’s second hit off of Hurst with a one-out single to left field in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Hurst went seven innings, allowed two hits, struck out five and walked one.

Centreville, under the direction of head coach Jason Horne, closed out the 2012 championship season with a 27-5 mark and capped of a remarkable two year run of 56-14. Six of the Tiger's starters are seniors.

Marshall finished with a 19-17 record which included a Class AA North title under head coach Bart Jenkins. The Patriots started five seniors and were looking for their first state championship in baseball.

Centreville Tigers - 2012 Class AA State Champions

Post Game Comments:

Centreville head coach Jason Horne

Centreville senior Cliff Hurst
Centreville senior Hunter Devall