By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

While the schools in the three larger classifications in the state of Mississippi are finishing up regular season play with some huge region games over the next few days, the prep baseball squads in Class 1A-4A will begin state playoff action.

Six squads in the ‘Southern Six” will begin their respective journeys to possible state championship match-up in Pearl next month, three in Class 4A. two in Class 3A and one in Class 1A.

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

In Class 4A, Region 8-4A top-seed Bay High will host Raymond in a doubleheader to open the Class 4A South State playoffs beginning at 5 p.m. Poplarville will also be at home to open the postseason, as the Hornets will host McComb Friday night after PHS finished as the second see in Region 8-4A.

Pass Christian, the fourth seed in Region 8-4A, heads to Richland to open the playoffs and will host RHS Saturday afternoon, while Greene County is at Lawrence County to open play. 

Here is the complete Class 4A state playoff schedule for the next two days:

CLASS 4A

Thursday

Game 1

North Pontotoc at Newton County, 6 p.m.

Forest at Sumrall, 7 p.m.

Friday

Game 1

Louisville at Ripley, 6 p.m.

Amory at Kosciusko, 6 p.m.

NE Lauderdale at New Albany, 6 p.m.

Choctaw Central at South Pontotoc, 6 p.m.

Tishomingo County at Caledonia, 6 p.m.

Senatobia at West Lauderdale, 7 p.m.

Houston at Itawamba AHS, 7 p.m.

Forrest Co. AHS at Northeast Jones, 7 p.m.

McComb at Poplarville, 7 p.m.

Greene County at Lawrence County, 6 p.m.

Pass Christian at Richland, 7 p.m.

Quitman at Purvis, 6 p.m.

Raymond at Bay High, 7 p.m.

Columbia at Mendenhall, 6 p.m.

Game 2

Newton County at North Pontotoc, 7 p.m.

Sumrall vs. Forest (at Ridgeland), 7 p.m.

Saturday

Game 2

Ripley at Louisville, 2 p.m.

Kosciusko vs. Amory (at Itawamba CC), 2 p.m.

New Albany at NE Lauderdale, 6 p.m.

South Pontotoc at Choctaw Central, 2 p.m.

Caledonia at Tishomingo County, 2 p.m.

West Lauderdale at Senatobia, 7 p.m.

Itawamba AHS at Houston, 7 p.m.

Northeast Jones at Forrest Co. AHS, 1 p.m.

Poplarville at McComb, Noon

Lawrence County at Greene County, 6 p.m.

Richland at Pass Christian, 7 p.m.

Purvis at Quitman, 1 p.m.

Bay High at Raymond, 5 p.m.

Mendenhall at Columbia, 7 p.m.

Game 3, if necessary

North Pontotoc at Newton County, 6 p.m.

In Cass 3A, St. Stanislaus hosts Jefferson Davis County Friday night to open the Class 3A South State playoffs before traveling to Bassfield on Saturday. St. Patrick heads to Magee Friday night and will host the Trojans Saturday afternoon in game two.

Here is the complete Class 3A state playoff schedule for the next two days:

CLASS 3A

Friday

Game 1

Ruleville at Kossuth, 3:30 p.m.

Coahoma County at East Webster, 5 p.m.

Belmont at Yazoo County, 5 p.m.

Rosa Fort at Nettleton, 4 p.m.

Choctaw County at Independence, 6 p.m.

Alcorn Central at Winona, 6 p.m.

Mooreville at North Panola, 4 p.m.

Humphreys County at Booneville, 5 p.m.

South Pike at SE Lauderdale, 7 p.m.

Jefferson Davis County at St. Stanislaus, 6 p.m.

Kemper County at Franklin County, 5 p.m.

St. Patrick at Magee, 6 p.m.

Perry Central at Seminary, 7 p.m.

McLaurin at Wesson, 6:30 p.m.

Crystal Springs at West Marion, 7 p.m.

Port Gibson at Enterprise-Clarke, 6 p.m.

Game 2

Ruleville at Kossuth, 5:30 p.m.

Coahoma County at East Webster, 7 p.m.

Kemper County at Franklin County, 7 p.m.

Saturday

Game 2

Yazoo County at Belmont, 4 p.m.

Rosa Fort at Nettleton

Independence at Choctaw County, 6 p.m.

Winona at Alcorn Central, 1 p.m.

North Panola at Mooreville, 5 p.m.

Booneville at Humphreys County, 1 p.m.

SE Lauderdale at South Pike, 4 p.m.

St. Stanislaus at Jefferson Davis County, 2 p.m.

Magee at St. Patrick, 1 p.m.

Seminary at Perry Central, 1 p.m.

Wesson at McLaurin, Noon

West Marion at Crystal Springs, 4 p.m.

Enterprise-Clarke at Port Gibson, 6 p.m.

Game 3, if necessary

North Panola at Mooreville, 7 p.m.

In Class 1A, two-time defending state champion Resurrection opens defense of its crown at home against Noxapater before hitting the road on Saturday.

Here is the complete Class 1A state playoff schedule for the next two days:

CLASS 1A

Thursday

Game 1

Falkner at Vardaman, 7 p.m.

Wheeler at Hickory Flat, 6 p.m.

Smithville at Myrtle, 6 p.m.

Jumpertown at West Union, 5 p.m.

Game 2

Jumpertown at West Union, 7 p.m.

Friday

Game 1

Houlka at Pine Grove, 6 p.m.

Potts Camp at Baldwyn, 6 p.m.

Strayhorn at Tupelo Christian, 6 p.m.

French Camp at Enterprise-Lincoln, 7 p.m.

Shaw at Taylorsville, 4 p.m.

Sacred Heart at Nanih Waiya, 6 p.m.

Lumberton at Ethel, 6 p.m.

Leland at Stringer, 4 p.m.

Noxapater at Resurrection, 6 p.m.

Leake County at West Bolivar, 4 p.m.

Game 2

Vardaman at Falkner, 5 p.m.

Hickory Flat at Wheeler, 6 p.m.

Shaw at Taylorsville, 6 p.m.

Leland at Stringer, 6 p.m.

Saturday

Game 2

Myrtle at Smithville, 11 a.m.

Pine Grove at Houlka, 1 p.m.

Potts Camp at Baldwyn, 2 p.m.

Tupelo Christian at Strayhorn, 1 p.m.

Enterprise-Lincoln at French Camp, 7 p.m.

Nanih Waiya at Sacred Heart, 6 p.m.

Ethel at Lumberton, 6 p.m.

Resurrection at Noxapater, 6 p.m.

West Bolivar at Leake County, Noon