Carson Norwood's shutout lifts East Webster baseball to MHSAA Class 3A championship
PEARL — East Webster's Carson Norwood wouldn't let any pressure get to him in Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 3A baseball championship Thursday against West Marion.
Through bases-loaded jams in consecutive innings, the senior just knew he had to do his job on the mound.
Norwood allowed no one to score, pitching a four-hit shutout in the 2-0 win for East Webster (30-3) over West Marion (25-11) at Trustmark Park, sweeping the series. It was the Wolverines' fourth state baseball title and first since 2015.
"(I) just push through," said Norwood, who walked three and struck out seven. "I don't let anything get to me. I try not to. I just knew I was gonna throw strikes even if they did score a run."
East Webster's first run came from an RBI hit by Kaleb Warnock after Briceton Johnson stole second. The other came after Johnson walked, stole second and third and scored on a passed ball.
Warnock said it was a group of seniors who had played with and against each other since they all started playing baseball.
"We've been playing with each other since grade school," said Warnock, who was MVP, going 5-for-8 with four RBIs in the series. "Just how we play for each other and how much coverage we got for each other. It shows a lot."
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East Webster hasn't lost since April 8. The secret was success at the plate.
"The main thing was pitching has been great all year, but the bats really came alive in the playoffs, and they just refuse to strike out and just refuse to get out," East Webster coach Blake Hutchison said.
Other than Thursday's win, East Webster had scored double-digit runs in every game since April 12.
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MHSAA baseball playoffs: East Webster wins Class 3A championships
