BRANDON — Justin Pettway’s pickoff and Lamar Anthony’s catch in deep center field preserved Vicksburg’s dramatic 12-11 upset of Alabama baseball powerhouse Cullman Friday night in the Mid-Mississippi Classic.

Pettway came in relief with Vicksburg’s 12-8 seventh-inning lead down to two and with runners on first and third. He then picked off Keegan Thompson for the second out and got cleanup man Ben Moore to fly out to Anthony in center.

“Great win and that’s against one of the best teams we’ll play all season,” VHS coach Jamie Creel said.

“They say the 31 move doesn’t work, but Pettway showed that it can. Then their kid hits an oh-no ball, but Anthony got the catch,” Creel said.

The Gators got four RBIs from Taylor Brocato off two doubles and a sac fly while Jacob Thomas knocked in three off two hits and a fielder’s choice. Anthony walked three times, had a double and scored three runs.

Vicksburg jumped out to a 6-1 lead thanks to three doubles, four walks and a balk against Cullman starter Jesse Thomas, who lasted just two innings. The Gators got three runs in the first and three in the second.

Lamar Anthony led off with a walk, stole second and scored on a Thomas balk. With two on, Taylor Brocato hit the first of two doubles with a blast to right-center to score Keaton Jones. Jacob Thomas, who went to third on Brocato’s double, scored on Clyde Kendrick’s fielders choice for a 3-0 lead.

In the Gator second, Anthony doubled to put two on. A walk to Jones loaded the bases and then Jacob Thomas brought in Cameron Cooksey on a ground out to second for a 4-1 lead. Brocato followed with his second double to score Anthony and Thomas for a 6-1 edge.

Cullman bounced back with three runs in the bottom of the second off four hits and an error.

Vicksburg got his third, three-run inning in the fourth. Three straight walks by reliever Colton Holmes set up the rally. Jacob Thomas singled up the middle to score Anthony and Thomas Clay. Brocato got his fourth RBI on a fly out to right to drive in Jones for a 9-4 lead.

Down 10-4, Cullman struck for four runs against Vicksburg reliever Justin Mills. Waddell came in and gave up a double but then retired eight of the next nine, including three straight strikeouts to end the fifth.

Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com