The Benton Tigers clinched at least a share of the District 1-5A championship with a 7-1 victory over the Airline Vikings Wednesday at Airline.
Benton (29-2, 14-0) leads Haughton (24-6, 12-2) by two games with only a two-game series against third-place Natchitoches Central (23-6, 10-3) left.
The Tigers can clinch the outright title with a victory over the Chiefs in the first game of the series Thursday in Natchitoches at 5.
Haughton and Airline (17-12, 9-5) open their series Thursday at Airline at 6. A Haughton loss would also give Benton the title.
At No. 26 in the non-select Division I power rankings per GeauxPreps.com, Airline is still battling for a playoff berth. The top 24 teams in the final official rankings make the playoffs.
Benton led Airline 2-0 after five innings then broke the game open with five in the top of the sixth.
Benton starter Tanner Webb went six innings. He allowed one hit and no runs, struck out seven and walked three. Jackson Jones got the final three outs. He gave up one hit.
Cole Snell reached base four times. He went 2-for-2, drew a walk and was hit by a pitch.
Jones, Griffin Sibley and Colton Birdsong led off the sixth with consecutive singles. Brody Turnipseed’s groundout scored a run.
After Kannon Greer walked, Case Jorden singled in another run. Snell was hit by a pitch with two outs. Kade Bryant’s single gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead.
Airline starter Leo Heng went five innings. He gave up two hits and two earned runs.