By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PICAYUNE — Longtime arch-rival Picayune and Pearl River Central face off on the baseball diamond for the first time in almost two years this week.

The neighboring foes didn’t meet last year for the first time in over a quarter of a century, but are once again in the same league as they meet in an important Region 4-6A three game series starting Tuesday night at Kent Kirkland Field.

In the past 15 seasons, the Blue Devils have a commanding 24-12 mark against the Maroon Tide. The last time the two teams met was in the 2024 Class 6A South State semifinals, when PRC took two out of three games both at home thanks to the homefield advantage.

But this week, Picayune will get two of the three games at home on Union Church Rd., as after a trio to Carriere Thursday night, the series will wrap up back at “The Kirk” Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.

PRC sits atop the region race with Hancock at 6-0 so far after two weeks of region play, while Picayune is 4-2.

Both teams are coming off of series wins last week, as the Blue Devils swept Gautier and the Maroon Tide took two-of-three from Gautier.

PRC got a solid week from both Blake Gill and Kendall Morrison last week, as Gill went 5-for-9 at the plate with two home runs, a double, seven RBI’s, scored seven runs and three stolen bases in the Blue Devils 11-1, 14-7, and 9-2 wins over the Bearcats.

Meanwhile, Morrison went 6-for-12 at the plate with a home run, a double, eight runs scored, four RBI’s, and five stolen bases.

Picayune’s Blaze Kellar drove in three runs in a 17-0 thumping of Gautier in that series opener, and Hayden Dobson chipped in two hits and two RBIs also.

The Maroon Tide and Gators split a doubleheader on Friday night, as Picayune took a 6-2 win and Gautier returned the favor with a 6-5 win.

PRC is 14-5 overall and Picayune is 10-8. Maroon Tide head coach Evan Nichelson, a former Picayune standout player, knows all about this series while Blue Devil second-year head coach Buddy Turnage is getting his first taste of this long-running rivarly.