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 tournaments 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 Tuesday, 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 their respective region action and one prep softball standout as well.

1. Tate Murphy, St. Stanislaus — Murphy led his Rock-A-Chaws to a successful week as in three games he a perfect went 8-for-8 at the plate with three doubles, a home run, a triple, seven runs scored, and two RBI’s in the Rock-a-chaws 21-2 and 15-0 wins over Tylertown in Region 8-3A play and in a 11-1 win over Petal.
2. Blake Gill, Pearl River Central — In a three game sweep of Gautier in Region 4-6A play, Gill went 4-for-7 at the plate with a home run, seven RBI’s, three runs scored, and two stolen bases in the Blue Devils 12-0, 14-5, and 12-1 wins.
3. Jaylen Johnson, D’Iberville — The Warriors swept Harrison Central in a three game Region 4-7A series thanks in large part to the versatile multi-sport standout Johnson who in three games went 6-for-9 at the plate with three doubles and six runs scored in the Warriors 7-1, 12-1, and 5-4 wins over the Red Rebels.
4. Chase Sones, Poplarville — The Hornet helped PHS sweep Lawrence County in a three game Region 7-4A set going 7-for-9 at the plate with two doubles, a triple, and 11 RBI’s in the Hornets 10-0, 12-9, and 15-2 wins over the Cougars.
5. Abby Danis, East Central — For the Lady Hornets softball team, Danis hit two home runs in a 12-3 win over Purvis and she also hurled 14 innings in the circle over two games, striking out 12 batters with 1.50 ERA in both the 12-3 win as well as a 7-1 win over the Lady Tornadoes.

This Week’s Games:

1. Ocean Springs at Gulfport — Tuesday night in Region 4-7A play.
2. West Harrison at Poplarville — Tuesday
3. (Softball) Biloxi at Ocean Springs— Wednesday in Region 4-7A play.
4. Hancock at Pascagoula — Friday in Region 4-6A play.
5. St. Martin at D’Iberville —  Saturday in Region 4-7A action.

South Miss 6 Sports Super 7 Polls

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

(March 24th 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. Ocean Springs (14-2)
2. Pearl River Central (11-5)
3. D’Iberville (13-3)
4. Hancock (13-2)
5. George County (12-6)
6. St. Stanislaus (12-4)
7. (Tie) Vancleave (9-6) & Gulfport (10-6)

Softball:

1. Ocean Springs (15-7)
2. George County (14-5)
3. East Central (16-4)
4. Pass Christian (16-3-1)
5. D’Iberville (11-3-1)
6. Harrison Central (13-7)
7. St. Patrick (12-6)