By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Six “Southern Six” prep baseball squads begin the South State playoffs Friday.
The postseason for the four smaller classifications in the state, Class 4A-1A, kick off a week earlier again as usual from the three largest classifications, which don’t get started until next week.
Class 4A features half of the “Southern Six” squads, including the only all “Southern Six” match-up in the opening round of the Class 4A South State playoffs as Poplarville hosts Bay High.

The Hornets are the one seed in Region 7-4A, while the Tigers are the four seed from Region 8-4A.
Also in the first round of the Class 4A South State playoffs, Pass Christian travels to Columbia. The Pirates are the three seed in Region 8-4A, while the Wildcats are the second seed in Region 7-4A.
In Class 3A, both St. Stanislaus and St. Patrick will open the postseason on the road.
The Rock-A-Chaws, the third seed from Region 8-3A, will head to Port Gibson to face the Blue Wave, the second seed from Region 7-3A.

The Fighting Irish, meanwhile, the fourth seed from Region 8-3A, will take on Region 7-3A top seed Franklin County.
Then, in Class 1A, Resurrection will host Salem Friday afternoon. The Eagles are the second seed from Region 8-1A, while the are the third seed from Region 7-1A.
All match-ups will reverse sits for Saturday afternoon’s game two. All series are best-of-three.