Here is everything you need to know about this week’s MHSAA Baseball State Championships. All games will be played at Trustmark Park in Pearl. Tickets can be purchased at the stadium box office or on GoFan.com with the price being $15.
• South teams are the home team in Game 1, North teams in Game 2 and if there is a Game 3 a coin flip will determine the home team.
CLASS 7A
HERNANDO vs. BRANDON
Game 1: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Game 2: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Tigers at a Glance
Head Coach: Taylor Karr
Record: 26-6.
How they got here: def. Tupelo 2-0 (13-6, 14-3); def. Lewisburg 2-1 (2-7, 8-5, 3-2); def. Oxford 2-0 (2-1, 1-0).
State Championships: None.
State Championship Appearances: 2012, 1992, 1966.
Players to Watch: INF/P Topher Jones (Mississippi State signee); P Thomas Mitchell (Ole Miss signee); INF/P Luke Romine (Ole Miss commit); OF/P Meyer Maddox (Northwest CC signee); C Hallas Lawson (Northwest CC signee); OF/P Tyler Sullivan (Northwest CC signee); OF/C Brody Martin (Jones College signee).
Bulldogs at a Glance
Head Coach: Daniel Best
Record: 23-12.
How they got here: def. Biloxi 2-1 (7-3, 1-5, 10-0); def. Ocean Springs 2-0 (6-1, 6-3); def. Northwest Rankin 2-0 (6-3, 10-6).
State Championships: 1967.
State Championship Appearances: 1967.
Players to Watch: INF/P Walker Hooks (Ole Miss signee); OF/P Jay McQueen (Southern Miss commit); INF Keith Forbes (Meridian CC commit); INF/DH Xavier Myles (Holmes CC signee); OF Cam Keyes (Jones College signee).
CLASS 6A
WARREN CENTRAL vs. GEORGE COUNTY
Game 1: Wednesday, 4 p.m.
Game 2: Friday, 4 p.m.
Vikings at a Glance
Head Coach: Randy Broome
Record: 19-11.
How they got here: def. Lake Cormorant (1-0, 8-3); def. Saltillo 2-1 (3-7, 9-2, 1-0); def. Center Hill 2-0 (7-3, 5-0).
State Championships: 2001.
State Championship Appearances: 2001.
Players to Watch: INF Ryan Nelson (East Central CC signee); INF/P Conner Watkins (Copiah-Lincoln CC signee); P Brooks Willoughby (Southern Miss signee); OF Cade Fairley (Hinds CC signee); INF/DH Cole Autrey (MS Gulf Coast CC signee).
Rebels at a Glance
Head Coach: Brandon Davis
Record: 28-5.
How they got here: def. Jim Hill 2-0 (15-0, 16-0); def. West Jones 2-1 (0-3, 3-0, 8-4); def. Pearl River Central 2-1 (0-4, 4-3, 12-1).
State Championships: 1997.
State Championship Appearances: 2018, 2016, 2015, 1997, 1996.
Players to Watch: OF Gage Reeves (Jones College commit); P Andrew Nielsen (East Central CC commit); P Preston McAdory (Pearl River CC commit); INF Ben Davis; P Canyon Reeves; C Blane Green; OF Trip Lightsey.
CLASS 5A
LAFAYETTE vs. VANCLEAVE
Game 1: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Game 2: Friday 7 p.m.
Commodores at a Glance
Head Coach: John Walker
Record: 26-7.
How they got here: def. Holmes County 2-0 (23-1, 11-0); def. Pontotoc 2-0 (12-2, 4-3); def. New Hope 2-0 (10-7, 1-0).
State Championships: 2006.
State Championship Appearances: 2019, 2006.
Players to Watch: RHP Aleck Farmer (Itawamba CC signee); INF Brody Breithaupt (Hinds CC signee); INF Houston Morgan (Itawamba CC signee); INF/DH Connor Counts (MS Delta CC signee); RHP/C Tanner Harris.
Bulldogs at a Glance
Head Coach: Justin Edwards.
Record: 27-7.
How they got here: def. North Pike 2-0 (7-1, 8-1); def. East Central 2-1 (1-4, 3-0, 4-1); def. South Jones 2-0 (8-1, 3-0).
State Championships: 2018.
State Championship Appearances: 2018.
Players to Watch: INF Asher Henley (MS Gulf Coast CC signee); INF/P Hunter Parker (Meridian CC signee); C Layton Eder (MS Gulf Coast CC signee); INF/P Tyler West (MS Gulf Coast CC signee); INF/P Hunter Harper.
CLASS 4A
RIPLEY vs. SUMRALL
Game 1: Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Game 2: Thursday 4 p.m.
Tigers at a Glance
Head Coach: Joel Gafford
Record: 23-10.
How they got here: def. Louisville 2-0 (14-0, 17-5); def. Newton County 2-1 (2-0, 1-2, 3-2); def. Kosciusko 2-0 (2-1, 9-4) def. South Pontotoc 2-0 (10-0, 13-2).
State Championships: None.
State Championship Appearances: 1992.
Players to Watch: INF/P Ty Long (Southern Miss signee); P/C Cooper Davis (Northeast CC signee); P/OF Tanner Allen (Blue Mountain College signee); INF Will Caviness; OF Hunter Kuhl.
Bobcats at a Glance
Head Coach: Andy Davis
Record: 32-4.
How they got here: def. Forest 2-0 (17-0, 8-1); def. Greene County 2-0 (10-0, 8-2); def. Poplarville 2-0 (10-3, 10-6); def. Purvis 2-0 (8-4, 10-4).
State Championships: 2022, 2015, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.
State Championship Appearances: 2022, 2021, 2019, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.
Players to Watch: OF/C Cade Clinton (Holmes CC signee); C S.T. Maust (MS Gulf Coast CC signee); P/INF Leo Odom (Ole Miss commit); INF/P Landon Hawkins; P/INF Drew Davis.
CLASS 3A
EAST WEBSTER vs. WEST MARION
Game 1: Tuesday, 1 p.m.
Game 2: Thursday 1 p.m.
Wolverines at a Glance
Head Coach: Blake Hutchison
Record: 28-3.
How they got here: def. Coahoma County 2-0 (12-0, 15-1); def. Kossuth 2-0 (11-1, 14-4); def. Nettleton 2-0 (10-5, 13-0); def. Mooreville 2-0 (11-5, 11-1).
State Championships: 2015, 2008, 2006.
State Championship Appearances: 2015, 2008, 2006.
Players to Watch: INF Briceton Johnson (East Central CC signee); OF/P Cade Morrow (East Central CC signee); INF/P Carson Norwood; OF Kaleb Warnock; INF/P Jordan Gaskin.
Trojans at a Glance
Head Coach: Derrick Jerkins
Record: 28-9.
How they got here: def. Crystal Springs 2-0 (13-0, 15-0); def. Wesson 2-0 (9-4, 4-1); def. Seminary 2-0 (7-2, 10-0); def. SE Lauderdale 2-1 (0-1, 4-3, 5-4).
State Championships: None.
State Championship Appearances: First appearance.
Players to Watch: P Kolby Stringer; OF/P Trace McDonald (Pearl River CC commit); INF/P Nik Carney (Southwest CC commit); INF/P Jude Stringer (Holmes CC commit).
CLASS 2A
EAST UNION vs. ST. ANDREW’S
Game 1: Tuesday, 10 a.m.
Game 2: Thursday 10 a.m.
Urchins at a Glance
Head Coach: Jamie Russell
Record: 26-5.
How they got here: def. Leflore County 2-0 (forfeits, 10-0, 10-0); def. Ingomar 2-0 (14-0, 18-0; def. Water Valley 2-0 (22-3, 5-4); def. Hamilton 2-0 (8-0, 9-2).
State Championships: 2023, 2022, 2017, 2016.
State Championship Appearances: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2007, 2005, 1995, 1975.
Players to Watch: P/OF Landon Harmon (Mississippi State commit); C Drew Hollimon (East Central CC signee); OF Tristan Baldwyn; INF Clayton Russell; INF/P Ben Basil.
Saints at a Glance
Head Coach: Mark Fanning
Record: 30-6.
How they got here: def. Collins 2-0 (15-0, 13-1); def. Bogue Chitto 2-0 (2-1, 7-1); def. Lake 2-1 (1-6, 11-10, 7-2); def. Clarkdale 2-0 (12-4, 6-0).
State Championships: 2018, 1985, 1979, 1978, 1977.
State Championship Appearances: 2018, 2016, 2009, 2001, 1991, 1985, 1979, 1978, 1977.
Players to Watch: OF Walker Van Meter (Meridian CC signee); OF/P Rolen Fanning (Hinds CC signee); INF/P Stone Myrick; INF/P Justin Word; INF John William Walker.
CLASS 1A
PINE GROVE vs. TAYLORSVILLE
Game 1: Wednesday, 1 p.m.
Game 2: Friday 1 p.m.
Panthers at a Glance
Head Coach: Matt King
Record: 27-10.
How they got here: def. Houlka 2-0 (12-0, 8-1); def. Baldwyn 2-0 (11-1, 19-4); def. West Union 2-1 (4-3, 5-6, 4-3); def. Biggersville 2-1 (7-3, 4-6, 9-7).
State Championships: None.
State Championship Appearances: First appearance.
Players to Watch: C/P Gehrig Shinall (Blue Mountain College signee); UTL Peyton Cornelius; OF/P Coy Childs; INF Brittan Fryar; INF/P Tanner Pannell.
Tartars at a Glance
Head Coach: Laine Jordan
Record: 21-11.
How they got here: def. Shaw 2-0 (14-0, 10-0); def. Nanih Waiya 2-0 (8-1, 10-6); def. Enterprise-Lincoln 2-0 (10-0, 9-0); def. Resurrection 2-1 (2-1, 0-8, 8-0).
State Championships: 2021, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2006, 1997, 1990.
State Championship Appearances: 2021, 2019, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2006, 1997, 1990.
Players to Watch: INF/P Ford Matthews; INF/P Terry Barnes; C Brady Quinn; INF/P Noah Westbrook; INF/OF Trey Barnes.
NOTE: All games will be on radio in the Jackson area on ESPN 105.9 FM. All Game 2’s will be aired live on TV and here is how to watch:
• Jackson – ME TV – WAPT Channel 16.2
• Gulf Coast – WLOX – Bounce 13.2
• Northeast MS – WCBI-MY MS – Channel 4.2
• Meridian – WTOK – myTok 11.2
• Hattiesburg – WDAM – BOUNCE 7.3
• Delta – WHCQ – Channel 8.1
• Water Valley/Oxford – WEBU Channel 22.1 Cozi TV.
