By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PETAL — The annual “Runway Classic” week-long prep baseball event here at Petal High School has a definite “Southern Six” flavor this season.

A trio of squads from the Gulf Coast will head to Forrest County to participate over the next few days, beginning on Thursday night.

Ocean Springs makes the trip first for a scheduled 7 p.m., first pitch against perennial state power Purvis Thursday night.

Both teams are coming off of vastly different starts to the season earlier in the week, as the Greyhounds fell to defending Class 6A state champion George County on the road Monday night 8-2 while the Tornadoes thumped Wayne County 12-0 in six innings.

Ocean Springs returns back home for its home-opener in a rematch with the Rebels Friday night.

After an off day on Friday, the event, which is named after a nickname for the Petal home field resumes on Saturday with two more “Southern Six” squads set to join in the fun.

The action begins at 11 a.m., with Harrison Central taking on the home-standing Panthers. The Red Rebels are also off to a 0-1 start after a 6-2 loss to visiting St. Stanislaus Tuesday night in a rain-shortened five inning game.

Rock-A-Chaw pitcher Sam Pike tossed a one-hit complete game to pick up the win, allowing only a double to Harrison Central’s Tre Hanshaw in earning the win.

Jaxson Moore started and took the loss on the hill for the Red Rebels.

Rock batter Wiley Mossy wielded the big stick in the season-opener, as he collected a game-high three hits including a pair of doubles and he also drove in two runs. Tate Murphy added a pair of hits and two RBI’s to the winning effort as well.

The final game in this year’s “Runway Classic” pits D’Iberville against Warren Central at 4 p.m., Saturday.

The Warriors are 1-0 on the year after dispatching visiting Long Beach 12-2 in five innings Monday night.

Jaxson Harris had a game-high three hits for DHS, including a pair of doubles, and he also drove in two runs. Jaylan Johnson, fresh off his time as a starting guard on the basketball team, registered a three-run double for the Warriors, while Bransyn White added a pair of hits including a double and two RBIs to the winning nine-hit attack. Cannon Wilson also had two hits for DHS.

Wayne Ulrich had a double to lead the Bearcats at the plate.

Corbin Smith picked up the pitching win while Will Brady took the loss.

Warren Central lost to George County in in two games to George County in the Class 6A state championship series last season.