By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

A state championship is on the minds of prep baseball players and coaches this week in the “Southern Six” as all seven classifications will be involved in their respective region races.

Getting to Trustmark Park in Pearl is the ultimate goal for every prep baseball player on every team in the state of Mississippi when the season tips off. And playing well in region action and earning a top four seed is the first step.

Each week until the overall state tournament starts in mid-May, SouthMiss6 Sports will be the place to be to keep up with the most complete and comprehensive info about all things prep baseball featuring stories and photos in the “Southern Six” counties of the state of Mississippi.

Each week, on Monday, we will take a look at at least five players and five games to keep an eye on as well as release our weekly “Super 7 in the Southern 6” polls.

Around the Diamond in the “Southern 6”

This week’s “Around the Diamond in the Southern 6” players list is comprised of some of the area standouts that came up big for their respective teams in the ninth annual Battle at the Beach last week. 

1. Andrew Nielsen, George County — On Friday, the Rebels were one of the only teams to actually avoid the rain and get their game in as they knocked off visiting Briarcrest Christian from Eads, Tenn., 6-4 on a walk-off home run by Nielsen. Nielsen strolled to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with one out and two teammates on base and his squad trailing 4-3. The senior calmly swatted a shot to right field for the walk-off, game-winning blast that sent Rebel Nation into a celebration.
2.  Logan Fontenelle, Biloxi — In a 2-1 win over Clinton on Tuesday night Fontenelle excelled on both the hill and at the plate as he twirled six stanzas of two-hit ball to record the win striking out six. Fontenelle also impressed at the plate with a game-high two hits including a double.
3. Jack Jordan, Ocean Springs — Jackson Prep marched into Ocean Springs Monday night with a gaudy 15-1 overall record and six straight state championships in tow. Greyhound junior pitcher Jack Jordan wasn’t impressed. Jordan hurled a complete game five-hit shutout over the powerful Patriots as Ocean Springs opened a three games in three days stretch in the annual Battle at the Beach with a 3-0 whitewashing of the visitors at “The Tom”.
4. Hunter Parker, Vancleave —  In a 10-2 win over South Panola on Wednesday, Vancleave broke open a close one-run game by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth frame to take a 6-2 lead and take control of the contest. Parker had a run-scoring single in the rally and he tallied a game-high three hits to lead the 11-hit winning attack for the Bulldogs.
5. Sean Norvell, Pascagoula — In a 14-0 shutout of Natchez at Gulfport High Saturday, Norvell wielded the big stick on the day for the Panthers as he drove in a game and career-high six runs on a triple, a double and a sacrifice fly.

This Week’s Games:

1. East Central at Vancleave — Tuesday in the Region 4-5A opener for both teams.
2. Picayune at Pascagoula — Tuesday in the Region 4-6A opener for both teams.
3. St. Martin at Harrison Central — Wednesday in the Region 4-7A opener for both teams.
4. Ocean Springs at Biloxi — Friday in Region 4-7A play.
5. Pass Christian at Moss Point — Friday in Pascagoula in Region 8-4A play.
6. D’Iberville at Gulfport — Saturday at 1:oo p.m., in Region 4-7A play. 

South Miss 6 Sports Super 7 Polls

Super 7 in the Southern 6 Prep baseball and softball Polls!!!!

(March 18th edition)

(Our weekly polls are the ONLY ones in the state of Mississippi that’s voted solely on by a panel of head baseball and softball coaches)

Baseball:

1. George County 9-1
2. Pearl River Central 12-2
3. East Central 6-4
4. Vancleave 7-5
5. Biloxi 8-4
6. St. Stanislaus 7-4
7. West Harrison 18-12

Softball:

1. Hancock 7-1-1
2. East Central 8-2
3. D’Iberville 11-5
4. George County 7-4
5. Vancleave 10-5
6. Gulfport 7-3-1
7. Stone 7-7