The Southern Six is well represented this weekend as 14 teams open the 2nd round of the South State Playoffs. East Central and Pearl River Central are set to open week 2 on Thursday night with a matchup in Carriere. The other 9 matchups involving our local teams kick off with game 1’s on Friday night. Division 7 and 8 are going head-to-head in 6 of the matchups including the Lady Hornet-Lady Blue Devil contest. St. Martin and Stone each lost tough game 3’s on the road while Sebastopol eliminated Resurrection to end their seasons.
In 6A, Gulfport, coming off a tough 3 game series with Petal travels to Flowood to take on the top-ranked NW Rankin Lady Cougars. Game 1 is set for Friday night at 6:00 pm with game 2 back at Gulfport on Saturday at 2:00 pm. The winner of that series takes on the winner of the Harrison County matchup between D’Iberville and Harrison Central. The Lady Warriors are set to host game 1 at 6:00 pm with game 2 in Lyman on Saturday at 1:00 pm. Ocean Springs, winners of 6 of their last 7, travel to Hancock to take on the Lady Hawks Friday night at 6:00 pm. Game 2 is set for Jackson County Saturday at 2:00 pm. These 2 teams met during the regular season with Hancock winning both matchups. The winner of the OS-Hancock series will meet the winner of the Brandon-Warren Central series beginning in Brandon Friday night.
In 5A, a Saturday prom is the reason for the EC-PRC schedule change. The weather could still play a role and move things back to Friday. If game 1 is played Thursday night in Carriere, game 2 would be in Hurley on Friday at 6. If the weather pushes game 1 back to Friday, game 2 would be at 11:00 am Saturday at East Central. East Central comes in on hot streak winning 14 games in a row. The winner of that series takes on the Vancleave-South Jones survivor. The Lady Bulldogs continue their tour through Jones County as they left Soso Monday night with a game 3 win over West Jones and now travel to Ellisville Friday at 6:00 pm to take on the Lady Braves. Game 2 is set for Saturday at 5:00 pm in Vancleave. West Harrison has the farthest road trip to open this round in 5A as they head to Florence with game 1 set for 6:30 pm Friday. Game 2 returns to the coast on Saturday at 6:30 as well. The Lady Eagle-Lady Canes winner gets the winner of George County and Picayune which kicks off in Lucedale on Friday night at 6:00 pm. Game 2 heads to Picayune Saturday at 6:00 pm as well. The Lady Rebels defeated the Lady Tide in their only regular season meeting.
In 4A, former and future division rivals Poplarville and Greene County open their series in Leakesville Friday night at 6:00 pm. Game 2 is set for Saturday at 5:00 pm in Poplarville. The Lady Wildcats-Lady Hornets winner meets the winner of the Purvis-Newton County series. Bay High, coming off their 1st round sweep head to Lamar County to take on Sumrall. The first pitch is Friday at 6:00 pm. Saturday game 2 returns to the Bay at 1:00 pm. If Bay can advance, they would face the winner of the North Pike-NE Jones series. In 3A, St. Patrick opens at home versus McLaurin at 7:00 pm. Game 2 is set for Saturday, at 12 noon in McLaurin. Potential weather on Saturday could force adjustment to the schedule and game 3’s, if necessary are scheduled for Monday back at the game 1 host site.
