That’s a wrap!
Our state’s high school baseball season officially ended this past week at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi, with the completion of the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s (MHSAA) 2025 State Baseball Championships.
Every Spring, it all comes down to two final teams (North Half Champions versus South Half Champions) from each of the MHSAA school classifications, 1A-7A. This year’s championship tournament began on Tuesday morning, May 20, with Class 1A action between the North Half champions, the Eagles from West Union, and the South Half victors, the Taylorsville Tartars.
The Eagles, under the leadership of Coach Ashley Russell, won their first game, 4-1, and they beat Coach Laine Jordan’s Tartars again in Game 2 on Friday, May 23, with a repeat score of 4-1. This was the first State Championship win in Eagle history, though they made it to the “Big House” in 2023 and 2009. This year, Grant Martin, a Senior pitcher, was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 1A series.
The 2A action started on Wednesday, May 21, between the North Half’s East Union Urchins and the South Half’s Clarkdale Bulldogs – in their school’s first appearance in State Championship finals. With a score of 4-1, Game 1 went to Coach Jamie Russell’s Urchins. But the Bulldogs, led by Coach Josh Palmer, rallied for a 4-1 win in Game 2 on Friday, May 23.
With the winner taking all in Saturday’s Game 3, the Urchins defeated Clarkdale, 8-3, while Junior shortstop Ethan LaMontagne garnered the 2A MVP Award. This was East Union’s fifth consecutive appearance at Trustmark, with 13 total trips to championship play, since 1975. The 2025 2A State Baseball Championship title marked their third State Championship in 4 years.
Representing the South Half, the Seminary Bulldogs were coached by Clay Bush. They took home the Class 3A Championship trophy in two games against Coach Derek Thompson’s Troopers, with a score of 2-1 on Tuesday, May 20, and a score of 9-1, the following day. It was the Bulldog’s second state title, and Dan Sinclair, Senior pitcher/outfielder, earned the 3A MVP Award for 2025.
Class 4A action began Tuesday, May 20, pitting the Purvis Tornadoes (South Half winners) against the West Lauderdale Knights. Coach Jason Smith’s Knights took Game 1, 2-1. Then, Coach Tony Farlow’s Tornadoes rallied back in Thursday’s Game 2, 3-2. But the Knights clinched the 4A title on Friday, May 23, defeating Purvis 3-2, in a nail-biting Game 3. With Sophomore pitcher Rylan Kennedy named 4A MVP, this 2025 championship series marked 16 overall State Championship baseball titles for West Lauderdale.
It only took two games for the Lafayette Commodores (representing the North Half) to take home their first 5A State Baseball Championship trophy since 2006. Led by Coach John Walker, the Commodores defeated Coach Mason Strickland’s Braves (7-1) on Wednesday, May 21, and again on Thursday, with a score of 9-6. The 5A MVP Award for 2025 went to Junior pitcher, Collin Waldrip.
Saltillo’s Senior shortstop Baylor Roberts garnered 6A MVP honors, and he also caught the last out of his team’s two-game sweep of the George County Rebels, led by Coach Brandon Davis. Coach Eric Reynold’s Tigers won Game 1 on Tuesday, May 20, with a score of 4-1, and earned the 6A State Championship title the next day, 3-1. Back home in Saltillo, this 2025 trophy will join 5 other State Championship and 8 North Half Championship trophies.
The only other 3-game matchup occurred between the Madison Central Jaguars and the Brandon Bulldogs. With the North Half Jags led by Coach Patrick Robey and Coach Daniel Best and his Bulldogs representing the South Half, the 7A State Championship title was finally decided on Saturday night after the only rain delay of the series.
Game 1 went to Madison Central (11-7) on Thursday, May 22, and Game 2 took place the next day, with Brandon winning 4-3. These two powerhouse teams closed out the 2025 MHSAA State Baseball Championships series with Madison Central taking the 7A title (5-1) for the 5th time in school history. Then, Madison Central’s Senior pitcher and DH, Addison Jayroe, won the MVP of the 7A series.
Out of hundreds of high school baseball teams throughout the state, it all came down to 14 of the best. And each of the dozens of athletes within those 14 final teams played their hearts out last week at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi. Each participating team wanted to take home the gold, and 7 teams did.
But the truth is, those of us who watched those 7 matchups (live or online) witnessed nothing but champions competing on that field. For 5 straight days, we saw strength, resilience, determination, sportsmanship, and humility in young men who will continue to honorably represent our state throughout their lives – even if they never suit up and play on a baseball field again.
And for that, I am forever grateful.
