By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

PEARL — In the largest classification in the state, a pair of players from the “Southern Six” have been honored with First Team All-State status on the first-ever Class 7A All-State squad.

And it just so happens that those two honorees just happen to represent the only two teams that advanced to the South State Semifinal round in the first-ever Class 7A state playoffs.

Gulfport shortstop Ethan Surowiec and Ocean Springs catcher Chris Fox were each named to the Class 7A First Team All-State squad.

In addition, two other “Southern Six” standouts were named to the Second Team squad.

Former Vancleave head coach Daniel Best earned Coach of the Year honors after leading his Brandon Bulldogs to the Class 7A state title. Best guided VHS to its first state title in 2018 before moving on to Brandon.

The Mississippi High School Baseball Coaches All-State Teams for all classes are voted on by coaches around the state who are members of the Mississippi Association of Coaches.

Here is the complete list of honorees in Class 7A:

CLASS 7A

Coach of the Year: Daniel Best, Brandon

Player of the Year: Lake Reed, P/C, Sr., Tupelo

First Team

Walker Hooks, P, Sr., Brandon

Wes White, P, Sr., Northwest Rankin

Jackson Hood, P, Sr., Germantown

Jack Scott, INF, Sr., Northwest Rankin

Reid Kent, INF, Sr., Oxford

Ethan Surowiec, INF, Sr., Gulfport

A.J. Seiter, INF, Sr., Clinton

Jay McQueen, OF, Jr., Brandon

Jonas Coleman, OF, Sr., Starkville

E.J. Booth, OF, So., Oak Grove

Chris Fox, C, Sr., Ocean Springs

Luke Romine, UTL, Jr., Hernando

Chase Russell, UTL, Sr., Madison Central

Brady Stinnett, UTL, Sr., Oxford

Second Team

Nico Williams, P, Sr., Gulfport

Logan Fontenelle, UTL, Sr., Biloxi

Thomas Mitchell, P, Sr., Hernando

Matthew Osteen, P, Sr., Lewisburg

Kody Gilmore, INF, Sr., Lewisburg

Trey Davidson, INF, Sr., Northwest Rankin

Kieran Coleman, INF, Sr., Starkville

Topher Jones, INF, Sr., Hernando

Meyer Maddox, OF, Sr., Hernando

Bryson Jones, OF, Sr., Northwest Rankin

Sam Roy, OF, Sr., Oxford

Coy Clements, C, Sr., Oak Grove

Drew Harrison, UTL, Sr., Germantown

Caidan Bullard, UTL, Sr., DeSoto Central