By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

A state championship is on the minds of prep baseball and softball players and coaches this week in the “Southern Six” as all seven classifications will be involved in their respective region races.

Getting to Trustmark Park in Pearl is the ultimate goal for every prep baseball player on every team in the state of Mississippi when the season tips off. And playing well in region action and earning a top four seed is the first step.

Getting to Hattiesburg at The University of Southern Mississippi is the ultimate goal for every prep softball player on every team in the state of Mississippi when the season tips off. And playing well in region action and earning a top four seed is the first step.

Each week until the overall state tournament starts in mid-May, SouthMiss6 Sports will be the place to be to keep up with the most complete and comprehensive info about all things prep baseball and prep softball featuring stories and photos in the “Southern Six” counties of the state of Mississippi.

Each week, on Monday, we will take a look at at least five players and five games to keep an eye on as well as release our weekly “Super 7 in the Southern 6” polls.

Around the Diamond in the “Southern 6”

This week’s “Around the Diamond in the Southern 6” players list is comprised of some of the area standouts in prep baseball that came up big for their respective teams in the ninth annual Battle at the Beach last week. 

1. Jack Jordan, Ocean Springs — On Tuesday, the senior standout starting pitcher Jordan twirled a complete game shutout in the 3-0 Greyhound win over St. John Neumann prep out of Naples, Fla., striking out seven and scattering five hits while walking none in picking up the win. Ocean Springs broke open a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth frame to pull out the win when Justin San Miguel and Adam Clower both drove in runs and another run scored on an error off the bat of a ground ball by Jeremy Korn..
2. Taveion Collier, Gulfport — Collier, a junior pitcher, twirled a pair of mound masterpieces for the Admirals last week in annual “Battle of the Beach” action. First up Collier shutdown Pascagoula 3-1 as he hurled just over six innings in picking up the win scattering six hits and striking out six and walked four. Then, Thursday night, Collier was right back at it on the hill as he hurled just over six stanzas once again in a 1-0 Gulfport win over Briarcrest Christian at Herbert Wilson Park. Collier was dominant as he struck out eight and scattered just four singles in keeping the Saints scoreless in the process.
3. Thomas Stennis, Gulfport — Stennis, the Admiral closer, came on late and picked up saves in both of those games that Collier won last week for GHS. He also picked up the win in a 4-3 vistory over Grenada on Monday night with a trio of strikeouts in just over one frame of work and tossed a scoreless inning of relief to close out a 10-6 win over perennial state power Clinton on Wednesday.
4. Jaxon Cripps, East Central —  The Hornets picked up two bigs wins Thursday to close out the BATB 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. In game one, the Hornets wasted no time in jumping out to a seemingly commanding 5-4 lead after just two innings thanks to a four-run second stanza, and then held off the Cougars at the end for the win. A two-run home run from Cripps was the big blow in that second inning rally.
5. Colt Robertson, Picayune — Picayune ran its win streak to six Friday night. The Maroon Tide blanked St. Martin 4-0 at Keesler Federal Park in one of the final games at the ninth annual “Battle at the Beach”. The win pushes Picayune to an impressive 11-2 on the season. Robertson was in complete control on the mound all evening, as he twirled a five-hit, complete game shutout to pick up the win striking out seven and walking just one in the process..

This Week’s Games:

1. Vancleave at East Central — Tuesday in the Region 4-5A opener for both teams.
2. Pascagoula at Picayune — Tuesday in the Region 4-6A opener for both teams.
3. Biloxi at Ocean Springs — Friday in Region 4-7A play.
4. West Harrison at George County— Friday in Region 4-6A play.
5. (Softball) Hancock at George County — Friday in a rematch of the Class 6A South State championship.

South Miss 6 Sports Super 7 Polls

Super 7 in the Southern 6 Prep baseball and softball Polls!!!!

(March 18th edition)

(Our weekly polls are the ONLY ones in the state of Mississippi that’s voted solely on by a panel of head baseball and softball coaches)

Baseball:

1. Picayune 11-2
2. Ocean Springs 9-3-1
3. Vancleave 9-4
4. Gulfport 9-4
5. Pearl River Central 7-6
6. St. Patrick 11-4
7. George County 5-7

Softball:

1. Hancock (12-1)
2. George County (14-1)
3. East Central (12-4)
4. Biloxi 10-5
5. Ocean Springs 8-8
6. Stone 8-6
7. St. Patrick 7-6