A decisive Game 3 is on tap in Saturday's Louisiana High School Athletic Association Division II Non-Select baseball championship series.
Top-seeded Brusly takes on No. 2 seed North DeSoto for the title Saturday afternoon in Sulphur. Both teams have each won a game, forcing the winner-take-all contest.
North DeSoto claimed victory in Game 1 on Thursday, 8-2, scoring all eight runs in the fourth inning. But Brusly returned the favor on Friday, run-ruling the Griffins, 15-0, in three innings, scoring 14 of those runs in the second.
So, which team will gain the upper hand on Saturday. We're about to find out.
Follow The Sporting News correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Sulphur.
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NORTH DeSOTO 7, BRUSLY 4 FINAL
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POSTGAME
- North DeSoto pitcher Preston Eaves pitches four innings in relief and gives up one run on two hits, striking out four to get the win. Miller Warren went 2-for-3, including a home run, with four RBIs and two runs scored. Trace Ogle was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, and make a big-time defensive play to end the fourth inning, keeping Brusly from scoring two runs.
- What a spring for North DeSoto High School. A couple of weeks ago, the softball team won state, and now the baseball team follows suit, as the Griffins get it done after being blown out in Game 2 of the Division II Non-Select championship series.
SEVENTH INNING
- NORTH DeSOTO STRIKEOUT. Preston Eaves gets a called third strike to end the game, as Brusly leaves the bases loaded, and North DeSoto has claimed the Division II Non-Select championship.
- Brusly gets the bases loaded with two out. Now the Panthers bring the championship run up to the plate. HIGH DRAMA IN SULPHUR.
- North DeSoto gets the second out on a fielder's choice, which brings in a run. Brusly now with runners on the corners and the tying run still at bat, facing the final out of the game.
- Brusly draws a walk on a full count, and the Panthers have loaded the bases with one out and the tying run is coming up to the plate.
- Brusly now with runners on first and second, still with one out.
- Brusly draws a one-out walk.
- To the bottom of the seventh, last chance for Brusly as North DeSoto pitcher Preston Eaves takes the hill, seeking to get the Griffins three more outs.
- Top of the seventh, as North DeSoto holds a four-run advantage.
SIXTH INNING
- What a job in relief by North DeSoto pitcher Preston Eaves. Eaves has pitched three scoreless innings and has allowed one hit. Griffins now three outs away from their first state title since 2012.
FIFTH INNING
- North DeSoto gets out of the inning unscathed, helped by the diving catch in left from Cole Cory. Griffins up by four heading to the sixth.
- And another HUGE defensive play from North DeSoto. After Brusly gets the leadoff batter on to start the last of the fifth, the next batter hits a shot to left, but Griffin LF Cole Cory goes full extension and makes a diving grab for the first out.
- Trace Ogle, who had a game-saving defensive stop to end the fourth, then gives North DeSoto some insurance in the top of the fifth with an RBI hit. (North DeSoto, 7-3 | T5)
FOURTH INNING
- WOW, what a play from North DeSoto second baseman Trace Ogle, who dives to his left to stop a ball from going to the outfield, possibly scoring two runs. Instead, Ogle throws to first for the third out, keeping the Griffins up by three as we head to the fifth. (North DeSoto, 6-3 | T5)
- Brusly gets two on to start the bottom of the fourth, and North DeSoto is going to switch pitchers. (North DeSoto, 6-3 | B4)
- North DeSoto strands runners on second and third in the top of the fourth as a strikeout ends the top of the fourth. Brusly comes up to bat in its half of the inning.
- North DeSoto escapes further trouble, and the Griffins take their three-run lead into the fourth.
THIRD INNING
- Brusly awakens, as the Panthers score three in the bottom of the third to cut North DeSoto's lead back to three. Coy Purpera hits a two-run triple to center and Josiah Hogan follows with an infield single to bring in Purpera. (North DeSoto, 6-3 | B3)
- HOME RUN NORTH DeSOTO: Up 3-0, the Griffins double their lead as with two on and two out, and facing an 0-2 count, Miller Warren hits a soaring drive that clears the wall in left. Warren now with four RBIs on the afternoon. (North DeSoto, 6-0 | T3)
- Top of the third, North DeSoto holds a three-run advantage.
SECOND INNING
- Brusly loads the bases with two out, but North DeSoto pitcher Bryant LaCour gets a called third strike to get out of the jam.
- North DeSoto adds two more runs in the top of the second, on a Colton LaCour RBI single and Brayden Toothman laying down a squeeze bunt to bring in the third run of the inning. (North DeSoto, 3-0 | M2)
- NORTH DeSOTO RBI. Griffins strike first in the top of the second, as Luke Delafield leads off with a single and comes around to score on an RBI single off the bat of Miller Warren. (North DeSoto, 1-0 | T2)
FIRST INNING
- Brusly drew a walk with one out, but the batter immediately gets picked off first. Next batter grounds out to end the inning.
- North DeSoto gets a runner on base with two out via an error, but Brusly pitcher Aubrey St. Angelo escapes the inning. Panthers will now bat in the bottom half of the inning.
- Brusly is the home team, so North DeSoto will be batting to start the game.
PREGAME
- Coming to you from Sulphur, as we're about to get started in the winner-take-all Division II Non-Select championship game between North DeSoto and Brusly.