PEARL — The annual Mississippi High School Activities Association’s state baseball championship series begins Tuesday with a trio of teams from the “Southern Six” in action as each of Jackson, Harrison and Hancock Counties will be represented at Trustmark Park on the opening day of play.
Here are a few important notes for those that will be in attendance as well as those that can’t make it and will be keeping up with all of the action on 228Sports.com.
Please note: 228Sports will have inning-by-inning updates all day Tuesday from all three games on our social media sites as well as full game coverage with a photo gallery from every game soon after the completion of each contest.
— Tuesday’s opening day schedule is:
CLASS 1A
Game 1
1 p.m. — West Union vs. Resurrection
CLASS 3A
Game 1
4 p.m. — Amory vs. St. Stanislaus
CLASS 6A
Game 1
7 p.m. — Lewisburg vs. Gulfport
— On the radio
All three games Tuesday and Thursday can be heard in Jackson County on WPMO-FM (96.9) or at wpmoradio.com. Also, all East Central games can be heard as well on the same outlet. The Hornets began the Class 5A state finals Wednesday at 7 p.m., and will also play Friday night at the same time.
— More coverage
Also, All games will be on radio in the Jackson area on ESPN 105.9 FM. All Game two’s on Thursday and Friday will be aired live on TV and here is how to watch:
- Jackson – ME TV – WAPT Channel 16.2
- Gulf Coast – WLOX – Bounce 13.2
- Northeast MS – WCBI-MY MS – Channel 4.2
- Meridian – WTOK – myTok 11.2
- Hattiesburg – WDAM – BOUNCE 7.3
- Delta – WHCQ – Channel 8.1
- Water Valley/Oxford – WEBU Channel 22.1 Cozi TV.
Also, all games every day will be shown on the NFHS network at NFHS.com. But a fee is required. The North teams will be designated the home team in game one and three (if necessary) and the South squads will be the home teams in game two.
— New territory
While all four teams from the “Southern Six” that have qualified for the state championship round have been this far before, this marks the first time in the 73-year history of the MHSAA that four teams from the Gulf Coast have played for Gold Gloves in the same season.
— Glory Days
Prep baseball teams in the “Southern Six” have won 26 state championships on the diamonds in six different classifications since the Mississippi High School Activities Association began a state-wide playoff system in that sport in 1950.
Two of the area teams arrive back in Pearl to defend their state titles won last season, as Resurrection in Class 1A and East Central in Class 5A are defending state champions.
In Class 1A, RCS is playing in its third straight state title tilt and looking for its second state crown in school history.
In Class 3A, St. Stanislaus is playing in its third state championship in the past 13 years and is shooting for its third state title overall after winning Gold Gloves in 2015 and 2010.
In Class 5A, East Central is looking to win its fourth overall state title and attempting to win back-to-back state crowns for the first time ever after winning Gold Gloves in 1981, 2008, and 2022.
In Class 6A, Gulfport is looking for its second state championship overall and its first since winning the crown in 1985 in Class 5A. Gulfport also aims to become the first and only school from the “Southern Six” ever to win a Class 6A state title since the MHSAA expanded to six classes in 2010.
– Weekend fun
All game threes will take place on either Saturday or Sunday depending on how many of the series advance that far.
