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 and prep softball that came up big for their respective teams as each clinched their respective region titles last week:

1. Ty Keys, Poplarville — Keys helped guide the Hornets to the Region 8-4A title last week with two wins in three outings against Greene County. During the three game series, Keys had five hits including a home run and two triples as well as he stole five bases. Poplarville beat GCHS 10-5 and 12-5 in the first two games to secure the top seed in the region race, and will meet Morton in the opening round of the Class 4A South State playoffs this week.
2. Dane McElroy, Vancleave — McElroy helped lead the Bulldogs to their second consecutive Region 4-5A championship with some solid work both on the mound and at the plate in a series win over Stone. On Friday night, Vancleave broke open a 1-1 deadlock with a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth stanza to even the series at that point up at one game apiece with a 4-1 win at home. McElroy had a two-run single to provide the home team with some insurance and seal the deal. He also had a solid outing on the mound to earn the win, coming within one out of a complete game. He scattered four hits and struck out eight while walking five.
3. Blaine Green, George County — Green, the senior stalwart catcher for the Rebels, helped GCHS win back-to-back Region 4-6A regular season titles as they completed a three game sweep of Pascagoula last week. Green had five hits and, including a triple and two doubles, and he drove in three runs in the series as the Rebels registered a 2-1 win over the Panthers on Tuesday and then back-to-back 8-5 wins over the weekend.
4. Blake Gill, Pearl River Central — Gill helped the Blue Devils win back-to-back Region 3-6A titles as PRC took two of three games from Hattiesburg to wrap up region play. Gill collected three doubles and drove in four runs in the series.
5. Blakely Slay, George County (Softball)— Slay, a multi-year starter for the Lady Rebels, helped GCHS secure its third straight region title with a series sweep over Region 4-6A foe Picayune. Slay recorded four hits, including a pair of doubles, and drove in three runs as the Lady Rebels beat the Lady Tide 8-1 and 4-0.

This Week’s Games (Baseball):

1. Gulfport at Ocean Springs — Tuesday in a big Region 4-7A battle for both teams.
2. St. Martin at D’Iberville— Tuesday in a key Region 4-7A encounter for both teams.
3. Long Beach at Picayune— Thursday in a very important Region 4-6A contest.
4. Morton at Poplarville— Thursday in the opening round of the Class 4A South State playoffs.
5. Gulfport at Picayune — Friday afternoon in an important Region 4-7A battle for both teams.

South Miss 6 Sports Super 7 Polls

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

(April 14th 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. Vancleave 20-5
2. Ocean Springs 19-5-1
3. George County 15-9
4. Gulfport 18-6
5. Pearl River Central 17-8
6. Picayune 18-7
7. Poplarville 18-8

Softball:

1. George County 22-2
2. East Central 21-5
3. Hancock 16-4
4. St. Martin 11-8
5. Stone 14-9
6. St. Patrick 14-9
7. Gulfport 12-9