By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

George County heads to Carriere to open the Class 6A South State championship series Friday night.

The Rebels and Pearl River Central face off in a best-of-three series with a trip to the overall Class 6A state championship on the line. Both teams were the top seeds in their respective loops, PRC in Region 3-6A and the Rebels in Region 4-6A.

Both teams also possess impressive records heading into their South State title match-up, as PRC sits at 27-5 and GCHS at 26-4. The match-up is a rematch of an opening round Class 5A South State playoff match-up from last season, when the Blue Devils knocked off the Rebels in three games.

In getting to this round, Pearl River Central proved it was the best prep baseball team after all in Pearl River County Monday night.

The home-standing Blue Devils toppled longtime arch-rival Picayune 7-1 in game three of that Class 6A South state semifinal series. PRC, under the direction of interim head coach Jarred Rodgers, moves on to face George County in the Class 6A South State finals beginning Friday.

Edwards took the helm of PRC about a month ago after longtime Blue Devil head coach Neil Walther was suspended.

Conner Dyess stepped up big for PRC Monday night on the mound, twirling a complete game three hitter while striking out none and walking two to earn the win.

Pearl River Central won Region 3-6A, while Picayune shared the top spot with George County in Region 4-6A and Poplarville did the same in Region 8-4A with Bay High.

But in the end, the Blue Devils are the final team standing in Pearl River County when the dust settled. 

The Blue Devils won the Class 5A state championship in 2017, and are in their first South State Championship series since 2018.

George County has played for the state championship three times in two different classifications over the past decade.

The Rebels are also back in South State for the first time in six seasons. The Rebels held off visiting West Jones Monday night 8-4 in the rubber match of that Class 6A South State semifinal series.

Head coach Brandon Davis and his squad bounced back to win the final two games of the three-game affair after being shut out by the Mustangs 3-0 at home in the series opener.

“This certainly feels better than being at the house,” Davis, the veteran Rebel skipper, said. “This team has doesn’t have the individual talent that we have had in the past, but we have a solid group of young men with integrity and work ethic.”

Game two is set for Lucedale Saturday night. .