By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

BILOXI — Action gets underway in the ninth annual “Battle at the Beach” Thursday at Biloxi High before shifting to the big stage Friday afternoon.

A doubleheader is on tap at Keesler Federal Park on the second day of play in the prestigious affair, and what a way to kick off the action at the home of the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers.

Up first, at 5 p.m., defending Class 6A state champion George County takes on another perennial state power in Catholic High of Baton Rouge, La. Following that game, is the annual “Battle for the Tomahawk Cup” between neighboring Biloxi and D’Iberville at 7:30 p.m.

“We are happy to announce that we have teamed up with Keesler Federal Park and the Shuckers for another year of the Battle At The Beach Tournament,” Biloxi High School Athletic Director Eddie Lofton said. “We have grown from 32 teams in year one to nine years later we are staying steady at 70+ teams each year. This year, in 2025, we have 82 teams in the Battle at the Beach tournament. It is such a great venue for local teams and visiting teams to play at. I have always expressed my thoughts to everyone asking that I truly believe that the relationship we have developed with the Biloxi Shuckers staff has been a big factor in the success of this tournament. I can’t say enough about Hunter Reed and his staff and how great the relationship has grown in such a positive way.”

Games will take place at Keesler Federal Park on Friday, March 7, Thursday, March 13 and Friday, March 14. Tickets are available now for $10 by clicking HERE. All seating is general admission. Gates open one hour prior to first pitch for all games.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Eddie Lofton and the Battle at the Beach Tournament,” Shuckers General Manager Hunter Reed said. “We hope that giving these student-athletes a chance to play at a Double-A ballpark is a special experience and we’re excited to welcome in teams from the Coast and beyond.”

Following Friday’s doubleheader, the tournament will return on Thursday, March 13 with another doubleheader featuring perennial state power East Central against Columbia Academy at 5 p.m., followed by Petal taking on St. John Neumann out of Naples, Fla.

The tournament concludes at Keesler Federal Park on Friday, March 14 with a doubleheader beginning at 5:00 p.m. with Hancock taking on Oak Forrest (La.) Academy followed by Picayune against Northeast Jones at 7:30 p.m.

Since its inception in 2017, the event has blossomed into one of the premiere events for prep baseball in the state of Mississippi.