By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — When the 2024 Mississippi High School Activities Association state prep softball state championships kick off here at the Lady Golden Eagles Complex on the campus of The University of Southern Mississippi on Tuesday, there will be a definite “Southern Six” flair in the field.

A trio of squads from the “Southern Six” will be in action and trying to bring home a state title. In Class 3A, the St. Patrick Lady Irish will face off with Mantachie for the crown. In Class 5A, East Central takes on Corinth and in Class 6A Hancock meets South Panola.

Hancock will be the first of that trio to take the field as the Lady Hawks get started on day one Tuesday at approximately 4:30 p.m., against the Lady Tigers.

On Wednesday, the other two “Southern Six” squads join in the fray as St. Patrick faces Mantachie at 10 a.m., and East Central meets Corinth at Noon.

Here is the complete schedule:

MHSAA SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Southern Miss Softball Complex, Hattiesburg

Tuesday

CLASS 1A

Game 1

Noon — Stringer (24-5) vs. Pine Grove (24-10)

CLASS 2A

Game 1

2:15 p.m. — Pisgah (27-7) vs. East Union (28-4)

CLASS 6A

Game 1

4:30 p.m. — Hancock (22-4-1) vs. South Panola (28-5)

CLASS 4A

Game 1

6:30 p.m. — Purvis (27-4) vs. West Lauderdale (33-4)

Wednesday

CLASS 3A

Game 1

10 a.m. — St. Patrick (23-12) vs. Mantachie (31-5)

CLASS 5A

Game 1

Noon — East Central (25-5) vs. Corinth (22-6)

CLASS 1A

Game 2

2:15 p.m. — Pine Grove vs. Stringer

CLASS 2A

Game 2

4:30 p.m. — East Union vs. Pisgah

CLASS 7A

Game 1

6:45 p.m. — Northwest Rankin (32-0) vs. Hernando (27-7)

Thursday

CLASS 3A

Game 2

Noon — Mantachie vs. St. Patrick

CLASS 6A

Game 2

2:15 p.m. — South Panola vs. Hancock

CLASS 4A

Game 2

4:30 p.m. — West Lauderdale vs. Purvis

CLASS 7A

Game 2

6:45 p.m. — Hernando vs. Northwest Rankin

Friday

CLASS 3A

Game 3, if necessary

11 a.m. — St. Patrick vs. Mantachie

CLASS 5A

Game 2

2:15 p.m. — Corinth vs. East Central

NOTE: Beginning at 3:30 p.m. and later for games that need to be play due to rainouts.

Saturday

Will be for any of the series that will go to a Game 3. Games will be played in this order: Class 1A, 2A, 6A, 4A, 7A, 5A. Beginning at these times: If five or six game 3s, will start at 10:00 am; if four or less game 3s, will start at Noon.