By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

Poplarville continues to set the pace in Region 8-4A as league play begins to wind down.
The Hornets completed a two game sweep of Moss Point with a 12-3 win at home on Friday, moving to 5-1 in the region race. Poplarville has a full two game lead in the league standings over Pass Christian, which sits in the second spot at 3-3, but the Hornets swept the Pirates to open region action several weeks back so they hold the tiebreaker over PCHS.
Bay High and Greene County each sit at 2-2 in the region race, and Moss Point pulls up the rear at 0-4 with only two weeks of league play left.

On Friday in Poplarville, Emile Pace had two hits including a triple and drove in three runs to pace Poplarville at the plate while Brock Sheppard had two doubles and drove in a trio of runs as well in the winning effort.
Hunter Waltman had three hits and drove in a pair of runs for the Tigers, while Jevontae Penny added a pair of hits also.
Chase Sones took the win for the Hornets and Aiden Evans suffered the loss.
Poplarvile faces Greene County in a two game, home and home region series this week, and the Hornets have already clinched a berth in the upcoming Class 4A South State playoffs. A sweep this week over the Wildcats would secure the top seed for the Hornets in the region race, as they wrap up league play with their two games this week before finishing up their regular season play with two straight weeks of non-region opponents.

Greene County is coming off of a two game split with Pass Christian last week, after the Wildcats took a 6-1 win Friday night in Leakesville.
Wildcat starting pitcher Brayden Bufkin kept the Pirates at bay all night, working just over six stanzas and scattering four hits while striking out eight and walking four in picking up the win.
Zaine Moody had a run-scoring. double to lead GCHS at the plate.
Wes Jolley drove in Pass Christian’s lone run. Evan Anderson took the loss on the hill.
The Pirates won the opener 12-8 at home. Pass steps out of the region race this week to face St. Patrick in a two game home and home series.

In other Region 8-4A play this week, Bay High takes on Moss Point in a two game, home and home series beginning Tuesday night in Gautier.