SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

May 19, 2025

Prep Baseball: Rebels and Tigers are familiar with the route to Trustmark Park and playing for the title

George County head coach Brandon Davis hoists the Class 6A state championship trophy last season at Trustmark Park in Pearl. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PEARL — The final two Class 6A prep baseball teams in the state left standing are no strangers to the venue they’ll be fighting it out for the state championship in this week.

Bus drivers from both George County and Saltillo are quite familiar with the route to Trustmark Park here in Rankin County. That’s because both teams have not only played in the state championship match-ups here recently, but brought home hardware for their respective trophy cases as well, representing state titles.

The Rebels are the defending state champions as they return to their old stomping grounds. In fact, this journey this week marks the fifth time in 10 years that veteran head coach Brandon Davis has guided his alma mater to the state championship round.

George County pitcher Canyon Reeves is ready to be fitted for another state championship ring after winning one last season at Trustmark Park in Pearl. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Versatile George County pitcher/hitter/outfielder Carson Pierce and his Rebels are back in the Class 6A state championship match-up just like last season at Trustmark Park in Pearl. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

George County’s Tripp Lightsey rounds second at Trustmark Park in Pearl last season vs. Warren Central in the Class 6A state championship. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

George County finally broke through last season with a pair of close 3-2 wins over Warren Central to sweep its way to its first state title since 1997, when the standout senior catcher Davis was named series Most Valuable Player.

Those are the only two state titles in program history for the Rebels, who also played for the crown in 1996, 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Meanwhile, Saltillo is trying to beat a team from the “Southern Six” for the second time in four years in the state title tilt, after the Tigers dispatched Pascagoula in three games in 2021.

That marked the fifth state title in program history for the program, but first since 1972. This will mark the seventh trip to the state title round overall for Saltillo, which is located just a few miles north of Tupelo.

George County’s Ben Davis has helped guide his Rebels back to Trustmark Park this season in Pearl for the Class 6A state championship round. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

George County’s Blaine Green reacts after a big play vs. Warren Central in the Class 6A state championship game one last season at Trustmark Park in Pearl. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Saltillo lost to East Central in three games in the Class 5A state championship series two years ago. (Photo by Chris Todd/for the Northeast Daily Journal)

However, the Tigers fell in three games in the state finals to another foe for the “Southern Six” in their last trip here, as East Central and T.J. Dunsford clipped them in three games two years ago as the Hornets captured their second straight Class 5A state title.

In fact, that loss to ECHS marks Saltillo’s only defeat in six appearances playing for the state title.

Game one is set for Tuesday night at 7 p.m., between George County and Saltillo, while game two will follow Wednesday night at the same time.

A third and final game, if needed, is set for Saturday morning at 10 a.m.