Grenada's Landon Waters does it all in 9-2 playoff win over Southaven

Waters picked up the win on the mound and homered to kick off an explosive offensive game for the Chargers

GRENADA — Landon Waters was throwing missiles and the Grenada defense played like they had glue on their gloves.

The Chargers took control early and rode Waters' right arm to a 9-2 win over Southaven in the opening round of the MHSAA 6A Playoffs Friday night.

"We can't overlook anybody," Waters said. "We got to practice hard and show up ready to play every game."

On Friday night, the senior led by example. He worked five and two-thirds innings to pick up the win.

Game two in the series is set for 7 p.m. Saturday at Southaven.

Game one was close early, as both teams went scoreless in the first inning. 

Southaven (12-12) had a chance to score in the second with runners at first and third, which drew Grenada coach Jake Yarborough out to the mound for a talk with the whole infield. 

"I just wanted our guys to play better defense," Yarborough said. "There were a few plays that I felt our guys could have laid out for some balls. (You've got to) give your full effort in the playoffs."

After stranding those runners, Waters went to work on offense in the bottom of the second.

He got the one he was looking for on his first pitch and hit a towering 380-foot homer over the right-center wall.

"I was thinking 'stay relaxed and be on time,'" Waters said. "I was aiming right-center gap, (trying to) stay inside and that's what happened."

The score remained 2-0 — with Southaven stranding runners at first and third again in the third inning —until Grenada blew it wide open with four runs in the fifth.

Jacob Yarborough doubled to right and came around to score, Thomas Kugn drove in Amari Conley with an RBI double and Hayden Hobbs brought home the speedy Jaheim Shack with a single.

When the dust settled, the Chargers (12-8) led it 6-0.

Grenada got it going again in the sixth, and this time, they cashed in. 

Jaheim Shack launched a missile right back past the Southaven pitcher that scored him and Amari Conley, who narrowly beat a throw on a play at the plate. Thomas Kuhn singled, stole second and home and make the score 9-2.

Southaven picked up two base hits to start the seventh, but it was too little, too late.

In the end, Grenada's speed and defense was just too much.

"I thought we ran the bases very well tonight," coach Yarborough said. "We practice base running hard everyday. It's something I stress to our guys we have to be good at. Anybody can get a good hit and be settled, but we practice running the bags hard every time you hit the field.

"It's the stuff we do in practice that helps us win games. Being able to stay settled and make plays at first and third. Everyone did exactly what they were supposed to do. We can play better defense. Defense has to get better."