GALLMAN — For the second straight game, the Adams County Christian Rebels could not get runners across home plate, and that cost them in a 12-1 loss to the Simpson Academy Cougars in five innings Thursday night.

Simpson Academy wound up taking the first round of this best-of-three MPSA Class AA South State Playoffs series two games to none and will take on Central Private in the second round, which will take place next week.

ACCS (14-10), the District 3-AA champion, hit the ball better than it did in its Game 1 loss at home Tuesday night. The Rebels had seven hits in the game, but they were kept off the scoreboard by Simpson Academy pitcher Casey Hunt until the top of the fifth inning.

“We were able to get on base. But whenever we needed the timely hit, we couldn’t get it,” Rebels head coach Hunter McKeivier said.

The District 4-AA runners-up Cougars scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, two in the bottom of the second, four in the bottom of the third and two in the bottom of the fourth.

“Simpson’s one of the best hitting teams we’ve seen all season. Jake (Brumfield) and Ryan Comer threw good pitches, and they were still able to hit the ball. You’re going to play teams that are going to get the timely hits. It wasn’t our defense. Defense played well. They were able to hit the ball and we weren’t.”

Even though the season came to an end sooner than McKeivier had hoped, he said that this is just the beginning.

“I’m extremely proud of the boys. We achieved one of our goals and that was winning the district championship. We are very happy with the year we had. It’s just a steady building block for the years to come.”

Central Private 10, Centreville 2

CENTREVILLE — Central Private scored eight runs in the final two innings to break open a close game en route to defeating Centreville Thursday night for a sweep of the Tigers in the first round of the Class AA South State Playoffs.

The defending Class AA state champion Rebels looked like they were going to be in for another battle with their District 5-AA rivals as they were only ahead 2-1 going into the top of the sixth inning. But some key hits by the Rebels combined with untimely errors by the Tigers’ defense led to a six-run rally and just like that the visiting team was up 8-1.

Centreville scored one run in the bottom of the sixth to make it an 8-2 game, but Central Private scored two runs in the top of the seventh.

Ort was the winning pitcher for Central Private (27-3). He held Centreville to just five hits. The Tigers did get a solo home run from Brad Jelks. The Rebels, on the other hand, had 14 hits in the game. Bourgeois went 2-for-3 with a home run and Stevens went 3-for-4. Centreville finished the season with a 19-12 record.

Sumrall 15, Franklin County 1

SUMRALL — Dehendrit Collins hit a lead-off home run for Franklin County, but that would be the only thing that went right for the Bulldogs they were hammered by the defending Class 3A state champion Sumrall Bobcats Thursday night.

Sumrall got a home run from Jered Miller while winning pitcher Luke Lowery held Franklin County (13-9) without a run after Collins’ homer. Hunter Hatcher had two singles for the Bulldogs.

Sumrall, ranked No. 1 in the Clarion-Ledger’s Top 15 poll and the Region 8-3A champion, improved to 29-0.

Game 2 of this Class 3A South State first-round series will take place today in Bude at 7 p.m.

Block 20, Northwood-Lena 2 (5 innings)

JONESVILLE, LA. — John Davis allowed just one hit and struck out seven batters while Block’s offense took control with a big second inning as the Bears trounced the Northwood-Lena Gators Thursday afternoon in their District 3-1A finale.

Block scored 16 runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a commanding 17-0 lead. The Bears would add three more runs an inning later for a 20-0 lead. Despite not having won a game all season, Northwood-Lena made sure it would not be shut out. The Gators scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning.

Ethan Trisler went 4-for-4 with three of his hits going for doubles and he had three runs batted in. Dustin and Justin Winborne each went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

Block improved to 13-9 overall and finished in third place in District 3-1A with a 4-4 record. The Bears will know who they will play in the first round of the Class 1A Playoffs next Tuesday.