Three teams from the “Southern Six” have punched their tickets to the South State Semi-Finals, but rain created havoc for most of the teams delaying some games.
East Central and Vancleave are set to renew their Jackson County rivalry this weekend as both moved on with sweeps Friday and Saturday. St. Patrick will join them in the next round as well. The Lady Irish dispatched McLaurin 11-1 and 8-5 to move on to a matchup with Clarkdale. Game one of the series will be at St. Patrick on Friday with game 2 set for Clarkdale on Saturday. The Lady Bulldogs swept their 2-game series with Seminary to advance.
There will be two game 3’s Monday night in 6A South State as the Gulfport-NW Rankin series and D’Iberville-Harrison Central series will go the distance. The Lady Admirals bounced back from a 5-0 shutout on the road Friday night with a 4-2 win over the Lady Cougars at home to force the decisive game 3 Monday night in Flowood at 5:00 pm. The road team has captured both games in the D’Iberville-Harrison Central matchup. The Lady Red Rebels took game 1 3-0 but the Lady Warriors bounced back with a 4-3 win in Lyman to recapture home field advantage hosting game 3 Monday night at 6:00 pm. Brandon and Warren Central will also play a game 3 on Monday night in Brandon. The fourth team in the 6A South State semis could be determined tonight as well in Ocean Springs. The Lady Greyhounds must defeat the Lady Hawks of Hancock to force a deciding game 3 Tuesday night back at the Kiln. Coach Joe Rankin’s Lady Hawks took game 1 12-3 and go for the sweep on the road.
reacts. (Photo by Becky Stowe/228Sports)
In 5A, while one semifinal is set between the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Hornets, the other side of the bracket sees a pair of game 2’s tonight with the home teams looking to keep their seasons alive. In Picayune, the Lady Tide must defeat George County to force a deciding game 2 back in Lucedale on Tuesday. The Lady Rebels took game 1, 11-1 and look to close out the series with a first pitch set for 6:00 pm. West Harrison faces the same challenge as Picayune. The Lady Hurricanes fell in Florence 8-2 last Friday night and must win tonight at 6:30 pm to force a game 3 in Florence on Tuesday.
In 4A there will be a couple of game 2’s tonight as well. In Poplarville the Lady Hornets look to bounce back against Greene County. The Lady Wildcats defeated Poplarville 12-5 Friday night in Leakesville to take a one game to none lead in the series. A win by Poplarville forces the deciding game 3 on Tuesday. Game 2 and 3, if necessary, will begin at 5:00 pm. Bay High host Sumrall at 6 tonight looking to keep their season alive as well. The Lady Tigers fell 9-8 in game 1 and look to pick up a win and force a return trip to Lamar County for a deciding game 3. North Pike swept NE Jones and awaits the winner of the Bay-Sumrall series. Newton County looks to close out its series tonight against Purvis with the winner taking on the Greene County-Poplarville survivor.
