BY SAM STAFF/Sports Writer

While the schools in the three larger classifications are finishing up regular season play over the next few days, the prep softball squads in Class 1A-4A will begin state playoff action.

A quartet of ‘Southern Six” squads will begin their respective journeys to possible state championships, three in Class 4A and one in Class 3A.

The first round of the playoffs is set for Friday with play wrapping up on Saturday and in some cases Monday.

In Class 4A, Poplarville captured the top seed in Region 8-4A and the ensuing home-field advantage and the Lady Hornets will host McComb. McComb finished as the fourth seed in Region 4-6A.

Also at home to begin the playoffs will be Greene County, which finished second in Region 8-4A, and will the Lady Wildcats will host Raymond.

A pair of Region 8-4A Gulf Coast teams in Pass Christian and Bay High will hit the road to open the postseason. The Lady Pirates finished as the third seed in Region 8-4A and will face Richland, the second seed in Region 4-6A. The Lady Tigers of Bay High will meet Lawrence County, after BHS finished as the fourth and final playoff participant from Region 8-4A and the perennial state power Lady Cougars won Region 6-4A.

Here are the complete Class 4A playoff pairings:

South State

NE Jones vs. Forrest Co. AHS

Greene County vs. Raymond

Purvis vs. Quitman

Richland vs. Pass Christian

Lawrence County vs. Bay

Sumrall vs. Morton

Poplarville vs. McComb

Mendenhall vs. Columbia

North State

Itawamba AHS vs. Louisville

Newton County vs. Senatobia

Caledonia vs. Ripley

South Pontotoc vs. Choctaw Central

North Pontotoc vs. NE Lauderdale

Kosciusko vs. Amory

West Lauderdale vs. New Albany

Tishomingo County vs. Houston 

In the Class 3A South State softball playoffs, St. Patrick captured the Region 8-3A title with a solid 7-1 mark in the league standings. The Lady Irish will face Hazelhurst on Friday at home, after Hazelhurst finished fourth in Region 6-3A.

Here are the complete Class 3A playoff pairings:

South

Enterprise-Clarke vs. Port Gibson

West Marion vs. Magee

Wesson vs. Kemper County

Seminary vs. Tylertown

Jefferson Davis County vs. Perry Central

Franklin County vs. McLaurin

St. Patrick vs. Hazlehurst

SE Lauderdale vs. South Pike

North

Kossuth vs. Humphreys County

East Webster vs. Holly Springs

Yazoo County vs. Belmont

Rosa Fort vs. Mooreville

Independence vs. Choctaw County

Winona vs. Booneville 

Mantachie vs. Amanda Elzy

First Round Bye: Nettleton