By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PASCAGOULA — A pair of top seeds in Resurrection and Bay High tuned up for the start of the upcoming south state playoffs later this week by engaging one another in a close contest Monday night.
The home-standing Eagles clawed out a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull out an exciting 7-6 win over the Tigers. The two-time and defending back-to-back Class 1A state champion RCS now stands a solid 18-3 on the season as it readies for a home. game Friday to open the Class 1A South State playoffs.
“We were lucky to get the win tonight,” RCS head coach Aron Frederic said. “It was a good team win tonight. It was the kind of game we needed heading into the playoffs. We got down in the middle innings and were able work our way back. Proud of our guys for hanging in and staying with it until the end.”

With two on and two out in the climactic seventh, Eagle Bryce Brown reached base on a Tiger error that scored Hayden Porter and Carter McCammon with the tying and winning runs for RCS.
McCammon had three hits, including a two-run home run in the first frame, and he drove in three runs for RCS both of which were game-high totals. Harris Hinkle and Michael Wayne Decoteau each posted a double apiece for the Eagles in the winning effort.
Luke Schnoor, the final of four RCS pitchers, picked up the win.
Paul Verdin smacked a two-run home run for Bay High to cap a five run fourth frame that erased a 4-1 deficit and put the Tigers up 6-4. Ethan Kingston had two hits including a run-scoring double for Bay as well.
Brennan Bilich suffered the loss, as the Tigers fell to 11-13 overall.

The Tigers open the class 4A South State playoffs at home Friday night also. Bay High edged Poplarville for the top seed in the league standings.
Yet another “Southern Six” squad was in action Monday night in preparation for the start of the south state playoffs as St. Patrick dropped a 10-0 road loss at perennial state power Purvis.
The Fighting Irish will hit the road Friday night to open the Class 3A South State playoffs. St. Patrick finished in a tie with St. Stanislaus at 5-3 in Region 8-3A, but the Rocks slipped into the second seed and gained home-field advantage in the opening round thanks to handing league champ West Marion its only loop loss of the season while the Trojans swept St. Patricks in a pair of games last week.