The third time was a charm for the Taylorsville Tartars. Withtheir backs to the wall, the Taylorsville Tartars responded with a4-2, must-win over the Wesson Cobras Friday night to tie thebest-of-three series.

The victory forced Game 3 to decide the MHSAA Class 2A South Statechampionship and Taylorsville prevailed 9-2 on a cool Saturdaynight on its home turf.

Taylorsville, South State runner-up to Richton and St. Andrew’s thelast two years finally cleared that hurdle. The Tartars will playthe winner of the North championship series between Hamilton andMantachie, Wednesday at Jackson’s Smith-Wills Stadium. Game 2 willbe played Thursday, at Trustmark Park in Pearl.

Taylorsville 9, Wesson 2

Gage Wilson absorbed the setback. He struck out 5 batters andwalked 9, allowing 7 hits.

The Cobras (20-13) committed 6 errors in the loss. It was adisappointing conclusion for their greatest season in schoolhistory.

Wesson was limited to only 2 hits, a double by Matt Smith and asingle by Kyle Cross.

Taylorsville junior Josh Pankratz hit a solo homer in thesixth.

Senior Cam Henderson pitched the Taylorsville victory. He fanned 4batters and walked 6. Conner West preserved the win with a wickedsidearm delivery in the final innings.

TAYLORSVILLE 4, WESSON 2

Wesson appeared to be in control of the contest after taking a 2-0,first-inning lead. However, a nightmarish fourth inning saw theCobras commit three errors as Taylorsville authored a 4-run rallyto secure the win.

Taylorsville pitcher Mason Woodrow had suffered a sprained rightankle in Thursday night’s 7-3 loss to Wesson. Woodrow overcame ashaky start to keep the Cobras scoreless for the last six innings,with 7th-inning relief help from Connor West.

Woodrow, a junior right-hander with a sweeping curveball, scattered6 hits. He struck out 6 batters and walked 4. He hit 2batters.

“Woodrow gutted it out,” said Taylorsville coach Dusty Hillman. “Hedidn’t walk at school Friday and we kept his foot in a bucket ofice.”

Senior southpaw Gib Britt (5-5) pitched well enough to win mostgames, tossing a 4-hitter. He struck out 8 batters and walked 3. Healso hit 2 batters.

“Both pitchers did a good job tonight,” said Wesson coach SethLofton. “Take away that fourth inning and we win the game2-0.”

The Cobras took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Britt,Paxton Cupit and Matt Smith led off with consecutive singles.Courtesy runner Brandon Nettles scored the game’s first run whenSmith’s single was mishandled in the outfield. Gage Wilson followedwith an RBI grounder to second base and it was 2-0.

For the game, Wesson left 8 runners stranded on base despite 2double plays by Taylorsville. The Tartars left 9 runners onbase.

In the fourth, Josh Pankratz delivered a 2-RBI single to left,giving the Tartars a 3-2 lead. With the bases loaded, GarrettBoykin received a walk and it was 4-2. A double play halted therally.