By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

For the trio of larger classifications, it’s one more week of league play in the “Southern Six” as all squads in Class 7A, 6A and 5A will be getting their respective seeding sorted out over the next six days in anticipation of the upcoming South State playoffs.

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 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 Poll”.

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 top single game performances by standouts in the three largest classifications that came up big for their respective teams in the ninth annual Battle at the Beach last week. We will highlight the four smaller classifications on Tuesday.

1. Tanner Busby, Picayune — On Friday night, at Kent Kirkland Field in Picayune, the Maroon Tide took a 7-0 win behind a dominant pitching performance from Busby. He threw a complete game, three-hit shutout striking out 11 and walking none in an impressive performance on the hill to earn the win.
2. Ethan Surowiec, Gulfport —  On Friday night in Gulfport, the Admirals sailed to a 15-0 win in just five frames over Harrison Central in Region 4-7A play. Ole Miss signee Surowiec had a game-high three hits, including a two run home run and a run-scoring double, and he also drove four RBIs. 
3. Davis Ormes, Gulfport — On Friday night in Gulfport, the Admirals sailed to a 15-0 win in just five frames over Harrison Central. Ormes had a game-high five RBIs on two hits in the big win.
4. Cannon Hensarling, Ocean Springs — On Friday night in D’Iberville, Ocean Springs got a solid performance on the mound from Hensarling in taking a 5-1 win in game two of the three game affair. He twirled six strong stanzas and struck out 10 while scattering four hits and walking four in earning the win. He got all the support at the plate he would need in the fifth frame, when his teammates overcame a close 1-0 deficit with a four run, game-deciding rally. Hensarling helped himself out with a run-scoring double in the inning.
5. Griffin Wells, Pascagoula —  On Saturday afternoon, the Panther pitcher Wells deserved a far better fate in a 5-0, 11-inning loss in Regn 4-6A play to George County. The versatile senior standout started and hurled eight shutout innings before leaving the hill with no decision. He scattered just three hits and struck out 10 while walking no one.

This Week’s Games:

1. Ocean Springs at Gulfport— Tuesday in game one of a three game Region 4-7A series.
2. Hancock at George County — Tuesday in game one of a three game Region 4-6A series.
3. Harrison Central at Biloxi — Tuesday in the first game of a three game Region 4-7A series.
4. Pascagoula at West Harrison — Friday in the second game of a two game Region 4-6A series.
5. Vancleave at Wayne County — Saturday in game three of a three game Region 4-5A series.

South Miss 6 Sports Super 7 Polls

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

(March 18th edition)

(Our weekly poll is the ONLY one in the state of Mississippi that’s voted solely on by a panel of head coaches)

Baseball:

1. Pearl River Central 23-4
2. George County 19-3
3. Vancleave 18-6
4. Gulfport 16-8
5. Ocean Springs 14-8
6. Resurrection 16-4
7. Picayune 16-7 

Softball:

1. Hancock 14-3-1
2. East Central 18-3
3. D’Iberville 16-4
4. George County 16-5
5. Ocean Springs 15-7
6. Gulfport 15-5-1
7. Stone 15-12