By Brad Greer

The South Panola Tigers clinched a spot in the Class 6A baseball playoffs by sweeping a double header from Columbus 10-1 and 10-0 in five innings Friday at Tiger Field.

The Tigers were riding a three-game winning streak heading into Saturday’s non-district game at Grenada High School, but four South Panola pitchers couldn’t stop the hot-hitting Chargers and the streak ended with a 13-3 loss.

South Panola (18-4, 6-1) can secure its first district championship since 2002 tonight at Tupelo High School at 7 p.m.

Senior standout Blaine Ware, having a statistical season most players can’t achieve on Playstation, will likely be on the hill as the Tigers look to win the their district for the first time in 17 years.

Another big game is Wednesday when the Tigers will play host to Southaven tomorrow on Senior Night. There will be 5 (JV)  & 7 (V) p.m games.

SP 10

Columbus 1

Dawson Griffin and Gehrig Griffin drove in three runs each as the Tigers built up a early lead in game one before coasting the rest of the way.

Dawson Griffin spun a complete game on the mound with 12 strikeouts and two walks while scattering six hits.

Gehrig Griffin staked the Tigers to a 2-0 lead in the first with a two-run double down the left field line to drive in courtesy runner Keshaun Lantern and Blaine Ware who had earlier singled.

Dawson Griffin meanwhile helped his own cause at the dish with three singles, with one of those coming in the fourth inning to driver in two runs.

Ware also accounted for a double and scored two runs. Gage Heath added two singles and scored a run while Braydyn Lee chipped in with a double.

Blaine Cosby scored two runs in a courtesy running role while Wes Morgan reached on an error and scored in the fifth.

SP 10

Columbus 0

(5 innings)

Senior starting pitcher Luke Weldon improved to 6-0 with a five inning complete game one-hit shutout as the Tigers cruised in the nightcap.

Catcher Braydyn Lee drove in a season-high four RBI with two doubles as the Tigers struck for six runs in the bottom of the first and won going away.

Brandon Phelps, Bo Williams and Denver Brown chipped in with one single each while Morgan added two singles and scored two runs.

Lantern, Weldon, Mari Boyd and Williams drove in one run each.

Weldon issued two walks and fanned 12 in five innings of work.

Grenada 13

SP 3

(6 innings)

A eight-run sixth inning led to South Panola’s undoing as the Chargers routed the Tigers 13-3 Saturday.

Grenada (6-6) pounded out 13 hits off four South Panola pitchers as Brandon Phelps took the loss.

Gage Heath added a little fire, blasting his first home run of the season in the fourth inning. He also singled

Tate Anderson, Williams and Denver Brown were used in relief but could not overcome walks and hits.

South Panola managed seven hits in the game as Dawson Griffin, Ware, Dre’Moore, Boyd and Weldon all singled.