SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

April 19, 2026

Prep Baseball: Poplarville sweeps opening round Class 4A South State series from Bay High

Poplarville batter Brayden Lee breaks out of the box after a hit Saturday afternoon vs. Bay High. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
BAY ST. LOUIS — Poplarville made quick work of Bay High in the opening round of the Class 4A South State playoffs.
The Hornets swept a pair of games from the Tigers in less than 24 hours, wrapping up the best-of-three series with a comfortable 15-4 win Saturday afternoon on the road. That outcome, when combined with a 10-4 home win for PHS Friday night, makes head coach Ahsley Graeter’s squad 22-8 overall. Poplarville is the top seed from Region 7-4A.

Bay High infielder Brayden Pepperman makes a play on a ground ball vs. Poplarville Saturday afternoon vs. . (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Poplarville infielder Chadwick Brown reaches up to grab a pop up Saturday afternoon vs. Bay High. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Bay High outfielder Tryston Alford tracks down a fly ball vs. Poplarville Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Poplarville batter Brayden Lee puts the ball in play vs. Bay High. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Poplarville pitcher Myles Glenn follows through with a throw Saturday afternoon vs. Bay High. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Bay High, the fourth seed from Region 8-4A, ends the season at 4-23 under first-year head coach Justin Barna.
On Saturday, in a game that ended after five frames, sophomore Noah Smith posted two doubles and a game-high five RBIs to lead Poplarville while junior multi-sport standout Ty Keys had two hits, including a triple, and drove in three runs for the Hornets also. Trip Jones had two hits, while Braxton Sones had a two-run double and Chadwick Brown had two RBIs as well in the winning effort.
Aiden Smith, one of a trio of Hornet hurlers, earned the win.
Bay High managed just two hits on the day, with Kyle Vance getting one and he also drove in a run.
Brayden Pepperman started and suffered the loss for the Tigers.

Poplarville batter Jett Smith takes aim on a pitch Saturday afternoon vs. Bay High. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Poplarville batter Ty Keys watches the flight of his knock Saturday afternoon as Bay High catcher Fredrick Weems reacts. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Bay High batter Isiah Hoyer offers up a bunt vs. Poplarville Saturday afternoon as Hornet catcher Luke Sones reacts. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Poplarville base runner Ty Keys slides into second Saturday afternoon as Bay High infielder Brennan Bilich applies the tag. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Poplarville pitcher Aiden Smith takes aim on the plate Saturday afternoon vs. Bay High. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Friday night, Poplarville scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend a tight 5-4 lead to the final count.
Brown had a game-high four hits and Jones added three hits and a game-high three RBIs to the winning cause in the six run win for the Hornets. Chase Sones and Jett Smith each added two hits apiece for PHS.
Luke Sones tossed four innings of one-hit ball with seven strikeouts to gain the win.
The Tigers managed just three hits on the night, with Tucker Monti posting a double while Frederick Weems had a hit and drove in a run.
Brennan Billich took the loss.