By Bruce Thornton
228Sports Contributing Writer
The current prep softball season heads into March with no unbeaten teams remaining in the “Southern Six” as Poplarville defeated Harrison Central 3-2 and Greene County outslugged George County 11-10 Tuesday night.
The Red Rebels face Stringer and Northeast Jones this weekend and face an exceptionally talented Northwest Rankin on March 13 before opening division play. George County began its season with six consecutive wins before the Lady Wildcats avenged a loss to the Lady Rebels in Leakesville last week. The Lady Rebels face the D’Iberville Lady Warriors on Friday night in Lucedale before traveling to Poplarville on Monday night and face Wayne County on Tuesday night in a game scheduled at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Harrison Central division rivals Hancock and Gulfport are also off to great starts this season. The Lady Hawks suffered their first loss of the season to Satsuma, AL, but bounced back in a pitchers’ duel defeating Pass Christian 1-0. Before the Hawks jump into division play on March 21, they will face three of the top programs in the state in Newton County, Neshoba Central and Hernando.
Hancock’s division opening opponent on the 21st will be the Lady Admirals of Gulfport. Gulfport is off to a 7-2 start with both losses also coming to Satsuma, Al. Before Gulfport takes on division rival Biloxi on March 14, the Lady Admiral will take on Orange Beach and Spanish Fort out of Alabama.
Biloxi is off to a 2 and 4 start and is set to host the softball version of Bash at the Beach this month. We will have a full rundown of the schedule for that week-long event next week.
Division 7-6A kicks off play on March 14th with St. Martin hosting D’Iberville while Ocean Springs and Pascagoula jump into division play on March 21st. D’Iberville is at George County Friday night while Ocean Springs hosted defending 6A champion Petal on Thursday. Pascagoula is in the middle of a tough two-game stretch on the road as they traveled to Hancock on Thursday night and head up Highway 63 on Monday, March 6th to take on East Central. The Hornets have faced multiple out-of-state opponents so far but will go into the Pascagoula game with wins over Ocean Springs and Bay High.
St. Martin faces West Harrison, Gautier, Stone and Lake before taking on the Lady Warriors in their division opener.
The Lady Hurricanes of West Harrison have won three in a row heading into their matchup with St. Martin. The Lady Canes face defending division champion Pearl River Central on March 21st. The Lady Blue Devils have also won three in a row but face a daunting schedule before opening division play with games against West Lauderdale, Hancock, Newton County and Hernando.
Long Beach and Picayune will also square off on March 21st to open division play with the Lady Bearcats stepping off the coast to take on New Hope, Wayne County and North Pike. The Lady Tide attempt to upset Harrison Central on Thursday night before facing 4A opponents Bay, Pass Christian, Moss Point and Greene County.
Those four teams along with Moss Point and Stone kick off the division on March 20. OLA host St. Patrick on March 14 to open Division 8 3A play. While Poplarville coming off their upset of Harrison Central open division play Tuesday, March 7 at Columbia.
