By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

The “Sonic of South Mississippi Big Game of the Week” this week is Vancleave at East Central Tuesday night in the “Southern Six” as sponsored by Sonic Drive In of South Mississippi..

This match-up pits the last two teams to win the past three Class 5A state championships, as the Hornets took back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 before yielding to the Bulldogs last season as Vancleave brought home its second state baseball title in seven seasons.

The Hornets host the defending state champs as Region 4-5A play begins for both teams. Vancleave sits at a solid 9-4 overall heading into Tuesday’s opening game of this now annual three game affair, while ECHS is 5-8 but coming off of perhaps their two most impressive wins to wrap up play last week in the ninth annual “Battle at the Beach”.

On Thursday, the Hornets began the day with a close 5-4 win over perennial Class 7A state power Northwest Rankin at Biloxi High, and then moved on to Keesler Federal Park later in the day to knock off Columbia Academy 7-3.

The pair of wins stopped a brief three game losing streak for ECHS.

“That was two big wins against two very good opponents,” veteran Hornet head coach Bo Long said. “We had been struggling badly for the last couple of weeks, and with district play starting next week we really needed a good day of ball to hopefully get us heading in the right direction.”

Long will match-up with first-year Vancleave head coach Zac Haarala this week. Harala and his crew come into the week coming off of a close 4-3 win over Hancock on Saturday.

Vancleave overcame a 2-0 deficit with a four-run rally in the fifth frame to take a lead it would never relinquish.

In that uprising, Hunter Harper registered a key two-run single while Dane McElroy added an RBI-double and Aidan Tapp drove in a run with a ground out.

Harper, McElroy and Martin Shaw each had two hits apiece for VHS.

Tony Craven and McElroy split time on the mound, and Craven came away with the pitching win with three innings of relief work.

Ayden Howard, one of three Hancock pitchers, took the loss.

James Steiler had a double to lead Hancock at the plate.

After Tuesday’s games, Vancleave will host East Central Friday night before the two teams return to Hurley for the series finale Saturday night.

Sonic Drive In has been a longtime supporter of prep student/athletes in the “Southern Six” and all across the Southeast. Make sure and stop by any of your local Sonic Drive Inns for all of your pre-game or post game meals.