In what has become an annual happening, Porters Chapel Academy claimed the district championship on the diamond Tuesday with an 11-1 win over Veritas.

The victory improves PCA to 13-7 overall and 10-1 in District 5-A. The Eagles are scheduled to play Veritas again on Thursday in the district finale.

“Our goal every year is to win a district championship and we really felt like we could do that with this team,” PCA coach Randy Wright said. “We have had some ups and downs this year, but we came out and took care of business tonight.”

Porters Chapel did it with a dominating pitching performance and clutch hitting.

Austin Barber threw 4 1/3 innings to earn the win. He gave way to Chris May with one out in the top of the fifth inning. May struck out Veritas pitcher Paxton Rook and catcher Josh Hill gunned down Reid Haynier at third on a stolen base attempt for a double play.

May also haunted Veritas at the plate, nailing his first career home run — a two-run line shot over the right centerfield wall in the bottom of the fifth to break open a relatively close game. After May’s home run, Jason Greer singled, moved to second on an error then scored on an error to give PCA an 8-1 lead. Clayton Holmes then blasted a two-run homer to give the hosts a 10-1 lead.

Holmes led all hitters with two singles, a home run and two runs scored. Joe Borello singled, doubled and drove in two runs and Greer singled and doubled with two RBIs.

“We came through with some big two-out hits and got a couple big home runs,” Wright said. “We are playing a lot better baseball than we did earlier in the year and that is the reason we have won seven in a row.”

Porters Chapel has three games remaining before the playoffs. It will travel to Veritas on Thursday, then play Indianola on Friday and Simpson on Tuesday.

WC 13, Provine 3

Five days after nearly having his nose broken by a foul ball, Warren Central’s Jason Pettway took the mound Tuesday and showed little effect of the injury.

Pettway tossed a five-inning, mercy-rule shortened Division 4-5A victory over Provine. He allowed two Provine runs in the first then a home run on a 3-0 count in the fifth with WC already leading 12-3.

Pettway was hitting on Friday against Clinton when a pitch hit his bat and the ball rolled up and smacked him in the nose. There were no broken bones, but he sat out Saturday’s game and spent a good part of the day with an ice bag on his nose.

“It didn’t hurt or anything,” said Pettway, who had a hematoma under his left eye. “It will be better by Monday.”

And a good thing, too. The Vikings, who are only 6-14 overall but 4-1 in the division, are scheduled to play at Clinton in what could decide the division championship. The Vikings still must play Greenville three times.

“Jason threw well and that was good to see,” WC coach Randy Broome said. “He was throwing ground balls and getting outs. We have to have him the rest of the way.”

Dustin Hardin singled, doubled and drove in two runs for WC, while Cody Barfield tripled, had two RBIs and the game-ending single in the bottom of the fifth.

Colby Key doubled twice and Harry Ferguson tripled and scored a run. Jimmie Elliott also singled twice, doubled and had an RBI.