Oxford advances to the North Half Championship

Published 7:16 am Tuesday, May 7, 2024

The Oxford Chargers advanced to the semi-finals round of the 7A state baseball playoffs Monday, beating the Madison Central Jaguars 3-2 on a walk off double by Brady Stinnett in the ninth inning in Game 2 of their round two series.

Oxford won Game 1 (5-3) on the road Friday.

The Chargers struck first in Monday’s thriller, scoring two runs in the third on a double by Thomas Rayburn and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Carson Schmelzer. Madison Central answered in the sixth inning with two runs that knotted the game at 2-2 on a fielder’s choice and a single, and the game was tied until Stinnett’s game-winning double.

Barrett Kamman got the start and threw 5 complete, allowing one run on four hits, a walk and a strikeout. Hayes Huggins worked 3.2 innings and surrendered one run on three hits. Madison Central had runners at first and second with two outs in the ninth, but reliever Robert Upchurch shut down the threat.

The Chargers (23-10) will play Hernando for the North Half title this week, and the right to advance to the state championship series. Hernando advanced to the semis with a 2-1 series win over Lewisburg.

Oxford lost to the Hernando Tigers 12-0 and 8-6 in two regular season games. In the south, Northwest Rankin will play the winner of the Ocean Springs-Brandon series this week.

Oxford 5
Madison 3

Oxford took a 1-0 lead in the series last Friday. The Charges scored in the first inning on a sacrifice fly
to left field off the bat of Brady Stinnett.

The Chargers extended their advantage in the fourth with two runs as Jack Harper and Reid Kent both got base hits in the frame. Oxford went up 3-0. Madison Central answered in the bottom of the fourth with three runs that knotted the game at 3-3.

Oxford retook the lead in the fifth on a double by Thomas Rayburn to right field as Kent and Brock Siskey scored to make it 5-3.

Kent finished the game 3-for-5 with a triple two runs scored and an RBI. Oxford gave the ball to Stinnett as the starter and he made quick work of Madison Central through the first three innings only allowing two hits. He worked 7 complete to pick up the win on three runs (two earned) with seven hits, a walk and five strikeouts.