The heart of the high school baseball season will be getting underway for a majority of the teams in the “Southern Six,” while some of the teams in Coastal Mississippi have already begun their region play.
Many of the local schools had an opportunity to face some of the stiffest competition in the South during the annual Battle at the Beach that wrapped up this weekend.
REGION 4-7A
Biloxi, D’Iberville, Gulfport, Harrison Central, Ocean Springs, and St. Martin will begin inaugural region action in 4-7A play this week.
The Indians (8-4) will open a 3-game series against Ocean Springs (5-6) when they play at the Greyhounds on Tuesday. They will host Ocean Springs on Friday. Both games are set for 7 p.m. The rubber match will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Greyhound Stadium.
“I like how our team is playing currently,” said second-year Biloxi head baseball coach Hawtin Buchanan. “We’ve still got things to work and improve on just like any team, but our guys are playing hard and played well as a whole against some good competition this past week during Battle at the Beach.”
The Indians did play well during BATB. Biloxi has won four of their last five games entering region play.
“With us starting division play this coming week, the goal is for us to continue to build and improve on what we’ve been doing to where we’re playing our best possible baseball for the next five weeks,” said Buchanan.
D’Iberville and Gulfport will begin a 3-game set Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Admirals Stadium. The Warriors (4-6) will host the Admirals (7-5) Friday at 7 p.m. The third game of the series will be 1 p.m. in Gulfport.
Harrison Central and St. Martin will also begin their 3-game series Tuesday in Lyman at 7 p.m. The Red Rebels (5-8-1) will play at St. Martin (4-8) Friday at 7 p.m. and the two teams will play the third game Saturday at 11 a.m. in Lyman.
REGION 3-6A
Since getting blasted 16-4 at Biloxi in late February, Pearl River Central has been on a roll. Coach Neal Walther’s Blue Devils have reeled off six straight wins to improve to 11-2 heading into Region 3-6A action this week.
PRC is looking to remain unbeaten in March when they face Jim Hill on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Jackson. The Blue Devils will host the powerful Tigers (10-0, 3-0) in Carriere Friday at 7 p.m. The Tigers have been putting up gaudy offensive numbers, sweeping a region series from Terry earlier this month by outscoring the Bulldogs 40-9.
REGION 4-6A
George County has had five games canceled due to rain this season, but the Rebels managed to win two of the three games they played in the Battle at the Beach and are 9-1 overall entering region action.
The Rebels will play at West Harrison Tuesday at 7 p.m. and will host the Hurricanes (3-8-1) Friday at 7 p.m.
Hancock will open regional play at Long Beach on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Hawks (5-6) are trying to snap a six-game losing streak after starting the season 5-0. The Bearcats, meanwhile, have yet to win a game this season and are currently 0-9 on the year. The two teams will face off again Friday in The Kiln at 7 p.m.
Pascagoula will travel to Picayune on Tuesday at 7 p.m. to begin regional play. Both teams have been consistently inconsistent so far this season. The Panthers (5-5) might be finding their stride, however, picking up a pair of wins in the BATB. ‘Goula beat Natchez 14-0 and rolled to an 8-1 win over Tupelo Christian.
Pascagoula will host the Maroon Tide (6-5) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Richie Tillman Field.
Picayune has also been up and down in non-region play this season, blowing out Poplarville 10-3 and 15-0 earlier this month, but have lost their last two games.
“I feel like we are in a good spot,” said Maroon Tide head coach Evan Nichelson. “We have played some good teams up to this point to prepare for the grind of the district.”
Nichelson said his squad is pitching well and becoming more consistent at the plate entering region play.
“Our goal is to continue to get better each day, compete our tails off, and when the dust settles at the end of this thing, we will see where we are,” said Nichelson.
REGION 4-5A
East Central has dropped four of their last five games as they enter region play. The Hornets (7-5) will play at Vancleave on Tuesday at 7 p.m. to begin a 3-game series with the Bulldogs (7-5-1). The two teams will meet again Friday at 7 p.m. in Hurley and close out the series Saturday at 1 p.m. in Vancleave.
Gautier (5-5) has dropped three of their last four games as they enter regional play at Laurel on Tuesday. The Gators will host the Tornadoes (1-0) Friday at 7 p.m. and then head back to Laurel Saturday for a 6 p.m. game to close out the 3-game series.
Stone County will look to get off to a good start in region play when the Tomcats (3-8) host Wayne County (5-6-1) Tuesday at 7 p.m. and then travel to Waynesboro Friday at 7 p.m. before finishing up the 3-game series Saturday at 1 p.m. in Wiggins.
REGION 8-4A
Region action got underway this past week for 8-4A with Bay High and Greene County splitting their series. The Tigers (3-7, 1-1) won 9-3 Tuesday at Leakesville and the Wildcats (4-5, 1-1) won 9-2 Friday in the Bay.
Poplarville currently leads the region after sweeping Pass Christian this past week. The Hornets (7-8, 2-0) won 10-7 in The Pass Tuesday and then blew out the Pirates (1-11, 0-2) 16-3 Thursday at home. Pass did pick up their first win of the season Saturday beating St. Stanislaus 9-3.
Moss Point (1-8) will begin region action this week when they face Pass Christian Tuesday on the road and at home Thursday. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
In other 8-4A action this week, Bay High will host Poplarville on Tuesday and on the road on Thursday. Games begin at 7 p.m.
REGION 8-3A
St. Patrick (8-5) won’t begin region play until March 26 when the Fighting Irish host St. Stanislaus and then travel to Bay St. Louis on March 27 to play the Rock-a-chaws, who split a pair of 8-3A games last week against West Marion. SSC (7-4, 1-1) won 5-2 and dropped a 6-5 decision to the Trojans.
This week, St. Stanislaus will play non-region games against Perry Central Tuesday at home and Friday in New Augusta. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
St. Patrick will host Tylertown in a doubleheader Wednesday beginning at 5 p.m. The Irish will host Presbyterian Christian Friday at 6 p.m.
REGION 8-1A
The two-time defending Class 1A state champion Resurrection Catholic Eagles continue to dominate Region 8-1A, sweeping a pair of games over Lumberton to open division action last week.
The Eagles (8-2, 2-0) haven’t lost a regional game since 2017.
RCS will host Salem Tuesday at 6 p.m. to continue 8-1A action and travel to Tylertown to play Salem Friday at 4 p.m.
