ETHEL – Seth Avants stepped it up a notch Monday in the openinground of the Class 1A state baseball playoffs. The Bogue Chittosenior hit 3 home runs and pitched a series-clinching victory asthe Bobcats rebounded from a 3-2 loss to Ethel and beat the Tigers13-5 in the nightcap.

The Bobcats (11-8) face defending Class 1A state champion EastWebster in the second round. BC entertains East Webster Thursday at5 p.m.

The second and third games of the best-of-three series will beheld Saturday at East Webster, starting at 4 and 6 p.m.

Bogue Chitto first-year coach Curt Crain said, “Avants had a bigseries. He was 9-for-11 and pitched two victories.

“Our team is starting to make the routine plays,” said Crain.”You throw strikes and keep the ball in play. We’ve been gettingsome good pitching performances from Avants and MichaelMartin.”

Avants has hit 11 homers this season.

Ethel 3, Bogue Chitto 2

Ethel capitalized on a dropped fly ball and an infield throwingerror to plate the winning run in the bottom of the seventh andkeep their hopes alive. The Tigers (16-11) had lost a 9-4 decisionSaturday at Bogue Chitto.

BC’s Michael Martin (9 K, 7 BB) gave up 2 hits and 1 earned runin 7 innings, absorbing the loss. The Bobcats committed 4errors.

“Michael pitched a gem,” said BC assistant coach Chad Norton.”He deserved to win.”

Avants hit a solo homer in the first inning. He also had asingle and accounted for both of his team’s hits.

Glace fanned 7 and walked 2 in pitching the win.

Bogue Chitto 13, Ethel 5

Avants collected 5 RBIs in the win. He hit a 2-run homer and asolo shot in Game 3. Martin had 3 RBIs.

On the mound, Avants (7 K, 4 BB) pitched the victory, allowing 4hits.

Garrett Wallace doubled twice and had 2 RBIs for BC.