Only two Southern Six baseball teams are left standing in the Mississippi High School Activities Association postseason.
One of them is Vancleave in Class 5A and the other is George County in 6A.
The state championships in all seven classes will take place this week at Trustmark Park in Pearl.
This is a preview of the 5A series.
Vancleave will take on Lafayette in a best-of-three that will begin on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Game Two is set for Friday at 7 p.m. If necessary, a third game will be played on Saturday at a time to be determined.
The Bulldogs (27-7) reached the finals by defeating county rival and two-time defending state champion East Central and then sweeping South Jones for the South State title.
Veteran coach Justin Edwards has the Bulldogs back in the state title series for the first time since Vancleave won its only state crown in 2018. He became coach of the Bulldogs in 2019, the year after Vancleave’s Class 4A championship season.
“Elated” is how Edwards described the feeling after the Bulldogs captured the South State championship against South Jones on May 11.
“It’s a special moment (to be able to play for a state title).”
Edwards has guided the Bulldogs to South State playoff appearances every year since he became coach. Unfortunately for Vancleave, East Central has been its playoff nemesis. The Bulldogs finally dethroned the Hornets in taking two of three games two weeks ago.
“It takes a lot to win a state championship,” said Edwards. “Going to a state championship is awesome. Winning one is even better. You have to be mentally locked in and prepared when you go up there.”
Edwards said his veteran team has really grown over the season.
“I like the maturity of this group and their experience in big games,” said Edwards. “We’re a very balanced team that can find multiple ways to win.”
The Bulldogs are riding a four-game win streak where they have outscored the opposition 18-2.
Senior Tyler West has been instrumental in the run.
“It’s a very special feeling (to play for a state title),” said West after the sweep of South Jones.
“Last year, we got knocked out in the third round and that felt awful.”
Lafayette (26-7) is unbeaten in the postseason and riding a seven-game win streak. The Commodores have outscored their playoff opponents 61-13 with two shutouts on the way to winning the North State championship.
Edwards knows it won’t be easy to knock off Lafayette.
“I think they’re going to be a very good baseball team,” said Edwards. “From everything I’ve heard and seen regarding them, they are solid top to bottom, a senior-heavy team that takes care of all the little things and does what is necessary to win baseball games.
“They are well-coached and play extremely hard.”
senior-heavy team that takes
care of all the little things and do what is necessary to win baseball games. They are well
coached and play extremely hard.”
