By Brad Greer
Despite a season-high 11 strikeouts from starting pitcher Chase Durham, South Panola could not solve the problem of Tupelo hurler Jason Garrett as the Golden Wave spoiled the Tigers’ senior night, claiming the Region 2-6A championship with a 5-0 victory Tuesday.
South Panola (9-15 overall; 2-5 district) visits Hernando tonight at 7 p.m. before going to Lafayette County tomorrow in an 11 a.m. varsity contest followed by the Junior Varsity at 1 p.m.
Garrett, a University of Memphis commitment, scattered three hits and walked four while striking out 12 in his second win over South Panola this season. The left-hander also fanned 12 March 22 in the Wave’s 15-1 win over the Tigers.
Durham was just as impressive for South Panola, giving up six hits while issuing four walks and five runs in the complete game.
The Tigers’ lone scoring threat came in the second by loading the bases with one out, only to have Garrett escape trouble with a flyout and strike out to end the inning.
South Panola left a runner at third with one out in the third before Cole Rotenberry, who reached on a two-out walk in the fifth, was thrown out at third following a single by Kyle Weaver to end the inning.
Tupelo took a 2-0 lead in the third as Jackson Bridges led off the inning with a walk and later scampered home on a throwing error. Leadoff hitter Stephen Mathews later singled and scored on an infield single off the bat of Tucker Whitenton.
The Golden Wave added two more runs in the following inning on a hit batter, walk, sacrifice bunt, an RBI single from Mathews and a throwing error to give all the run support Garrett would need.
Jacob Fennel doubled while Weaver and Rotenberry singled for the only South Panola hits. Tupelo tacked on its final run in the seventh on a two-out single from LaBryant Sidell.
Senior baseball players included: Durham, Weaver, Cole Rotenberry, Zach Hopper, Fennel and Turner Rotenberry
 SP (JV)-4 Tupelo-0
Chris Brown and Anderson Wilder combined on a four-inning shutout as the Tigers came away with the victory.
South Panola plated three runs in the first on five walks and an RBI single by Blaine Ware. Luke Daniels accounted for the last Tiger run in the third with a single and later was forced home on a bases loaded walk by Ware. James Kyle Browning, Brayden Locke and Nathan Herron crossed the plate for South Panola.