East Central rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to win the opener by a 10-7 margin, and overcame an early 3-1 deficit to capture the nightcap, 10-4.

Vincent Kortbawi, a freshman from Hale County High School in Moundville, Ala., led EC at the plate with three hits and five RBIs. He also scored twice.

Collecting two hits each were Richie Long and Quin Stokes, both of Carthage. Long was also credited with two RBIs and scored a run. Stokes knocked in one run and also scored.

Charles Hill of Carthage and Andre Yates of Grenada had one hit each. Both also scored a run and Yates had an RBI.

Ernie Triplett of Louisville scored two runs and Donnie Tabb of Neshoba Central and Darmaal Moore of Stone County each scored once.

Right-hander Cal Cossich of Ocean Springs was the winning pitcher in relief. He fanned five batters, walked two and allowed two hits in two-and one-third innings of work.  Allen Johnson of Leake Academy was the starter. Johnson pitched four innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He fanned one batter and walked one. Austin Buchanan of Neshoba Central pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs on two hits. 

In the second game, Hill and Yates led Diamond Sluggers with three hits each. Hill also scored three runs. Yates scored one and collected an RBI.

Long and Drew Wilson, a product of Newton County High School, had two hits each. Both also scored a run and knocked in a run. Stokes also had a hit and collected two RBIs. Also scoring runs were Tabb, Kortbawi, Triplett and Ricardo Velez of Puerto Rico.

Freshman southpaw Pervis Mann of Carthage was the winning pitcher. Mann pitched the first four innings, allowing four runs on four hits. He fanned nine batters and walked three. Willard Bacon, a freshman southpaw from Choctaw Central, hurled the final three innings, allowing just one hit. He fanned three batters and walked three.

The Diamond Warriors host Lurleen Wallace Community College today (Tuesday) in doubleheader action beginning at 1 p.m. at the Clark/Gay Baseball Complex.