James Harwell didn’t realize his RBI single in the top of the seventh inning would end up being the game-winner, but he knew he had to get his teammate home.

Fellow senior Easton Rainer doubled deep to center field to get into scoring position, and with Clarkdale only leading Leake Central 5-4, an insurance run was needed. Harwell connected, Rainer scored, and the Bulldogs’ lead was extended 6-4.

The Gators didn’t go quietly in the bottom of the seventh, as Leake Central’s Jakob Hughes was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, cutting the lead to 6-5. Clarkdale reliever Gavin Moffett, however, buckled down and got the third out, securing the one-run win in the spring break tournament at Q.V. Sykes Field.

“You just have to get to it,” Harwell said of his at-bat that was the difference in the game. “I just put it in play, and I knew (Rainer) would get there.”

Leake Central never led in the contest, but the Gators continually cut into Clarkdale’s lead throughout the seven innings, and Bulldogs head coach Scott Gibson said he was pleased to see his offense keep fighting when Leake Central kept making it close.

“We had 10 hits, and we had a couple of two-out hits,” Gibson said. “We’re getting better. We’re slowly getting better.”

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Tripp Freeman drove in Bo Richards on a single and Harwell doubled in Freeman. Leake Central responded in the bottom of the first with an RBI double by Cy Rushing to make it 2-1 going into the top of the second.

Neither team would score again until the fourth inning when Harvey Griffin had an RBI single to extend Clarkdale’s lead to 3-1. Again, though, the Gators cut the lead back to one in the bottom of the frame when Hughes scored on a sacrifice fly by Rushing to make it 3-2.

In the top of the fifth, Clarkdale added two more runs when Moffett scored Rainer on a fielder’s choice and Freeman came home on an error, but Leake Central once again cut the lead to one in the bottom of the sixth when Hughes drove in Mace Reed on a single and Adrian Dodd hit a sacrifice fly to send home Antonio Luckett.

Jake Williams got the start for Clarkdale, surrendering two runs, one earned, on two hits in five innings pitched. He also had two strikeouts.

“That’s a freshman; 14 years old,” Gibson said of Williams. “That puts him at 4-0 on the year now. We’re trying to limit that pitch count, and he’s doing a phenomenal job going out there and getting us a chance to win by staying in the bottom of the zone.”

Harvey Griffin pitched the sixth inning for Clarkdale, surrendering two runs on one hit with one walk and one strikeout. Moffett closed the game in the seventh, giving up one run on two hits with two strikeouts.

Rainer finished 2-for-4, and Harwell led Clarkdale offensively, going 3-for-4. Moffett went 2-for-3.

Calvin McClendon got the start for Leake Central, giving up three runs, two earned, on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts in four innings of work. Rushing pitched the last three innings for the Gators, surrendering three runs, two earned on four hits with one strikeout and two walks.

Getting a close win is something Gibson said will hopefully carry over with the team going forward.

“We’re just growing mentally and getting better every game,” Gibson said. “Like I said, we started the game with a 14-year-old on the mound and ended the game with a 14-year-old on the mound. We just have to play more to get these guys more experience and confidence.”

Said Harwell, “It’s a great win. It really boosts us up and gives us confidence going into (Friday).”

Clarkdale (5-4) will play Presbyterian Christian School out of Hattiesburg tomorrow at the Stringer tournament. Leake Central (3-4) will play at Noxubee County Tuesday.