District 4's Kade Pigg of Neshoba Central High School receives a gold medal after his team defeated District 6 Friday at Meridian Community College during the State Games of Mississippi All Star baseball tournament.

Kade Pigg’s and Colby Ellingburg’s friendship has spanned several grades. And as teammates on Neshoba Central’s baseball team, that bond has only gotten stronger over the past couple of years.

The two can now add State Games of Mississippi gold medalists to the list of similarities they share as both players helped lead District 4 to the 2016 State Games of Mississippi All-Star baseball tournament championship Friday afternoon at Meridian Community College as District 4 defeated District 6 7-2 to win the gold medal.

Pigg, a rising junior, said he’ll cherish the memories he’s made throughout the tournament.

“It’s been great making new friends, and I hate that we have to leave, but we won and we’re all happy,” said Pigg, who went 1-for-3 at the plate to go along with two RBIs and a single. “Neshoba Central is a great school. I played hard, and I give thanks to Coach (Justin) Stovall. He helped me out a lot.”

Although Ellingburg didn’t have a plate appearance in the game, he contributed on the base paths and on defense. Ellingburg said he’s glad to be able to share the experience with his close friend, and he’s hopeful that the momentum from the win will spill into Neshoba’s baseball season.

“It’s awesome,” Ellingburg, who will be a senior next year, said. “We’ve been friends since middle school, and this makes (the friendship) stronger. I feel like we can now compete when we go back home. Hopefully, we can carry this on and drag it into next year and make it all the way to state.”

Pigg and Ellingburg were the only Neshoba Central representatives on District 4, but head coach Jordan Smith said the two stood out for reasons other than their baseball talents.

“They are selfless,” Smith, an assistant coach at East Webster High School, said of the duo. “They’re team players, and they give a non-stop effort until the last pitch and the last out. They’re great kids on the inside, and it translates onto the baseball field. They are a coach’s dream —  great kids.”

Larry and Gail Pigg have followed their grandson, Kade, to baseball games throughout the Southeast since youth baseball. The couple was in attendance at Scaggs Field Friday to watch him receive his gold medal.

“It’s a great accomplishment for the young man, and for us as a school,” Larry Pigg said. “It makes a grandpa happy, and his grandma, too.”

Gail Pigg said she’s delighted to see her grandson’s efforts produce successful results.

“We’ve watched him since he was three-years-old,” she said. “He’s an only child, and he’s special. He’s a hard worker. He gives 150 percent every time.”