By By Jeff Byrd / sports editor
April 23, 2003
After nearly two days of wrangling, playoffs for the second round of high school baseball and the third round girls fast-pitch softball are set for area teams.
The Meridian High Wildcats, fresh off their somewhat controversial 10-9 victory last Saturday against Moss Point, will take on Hattiesburg in a best-of-three, second-round series beginning Friday at John Moss Field.
Meridian is 26-5 after taking two out of three games from Moss Point, winning both games at John Moss 6-0 and 10-9. Moss Point was none too happy about the second loss, but that's the playoffs.
Hattiesburg swept past Gulfport winning game one at Gulfport 13-2. The Tigers then beat the Admirals 3-0 in Hattiesburg to complete the sweep.
Game two of the Meridian-Hattiesburg series is set for 7 p.m. Saturday at Smokie Harrington Park in Hattiesburg. A game three, if necessary, will be back in Meridian on Monday at 7 p.m.
The West Lauderdale-Greene County series could be one of the best in the 3A ranks this weekend.
The Knights, winners of 10 state championships, are 21-6 after sweeping Franklin County 6-0 and 6-1 last week. Head coach Jerry Boatner picked up his 800th career coaching victory in game two of that series.
Greene County is 26-4. Game one of the series is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at West Lauderdale's home field. Game two will be at 7 p.m. on Friday in Leakesville. A third game, if necessary, is set for 7 p.m. Monday at West Lauderdale.
The defending fast-pitch 3A State champion Newton County Lady Cougars have moved up their South State 3A series with Carthage a day. Statewide testing was thought to have all fast-pitch series begin on Saturday, but Newton County and Carthage will go Friday with the first of two games starting at 6 p.m.
A third game, if necessary, will be Saturday at noon in Carthage.
The Union Yellow Jackets will host St. Aloysius on Friday at 6 p.m. in game one of their Class 1A baseball series. Game two is set for Vicksburg at a time to be determined. Game three, if necessary, is set for Monday at 6 p.m.
The Clarkdale Lady Bulldogs, the defending Class 1A-2A Fast-pitch Champions, will take on Bogue Chitto for the South State 1A-2A title on Saturday in Clarkdale.
The Philadelphia Tornadoes, who beat North Pike in three games in a first round 3A series, will host Purvis in game one of a 3A quarterfinal series on Friday at Philadelphia. Game two will be in Purvis on Saturday.
In MPSA baseball playoffs, Heidelberg Academy will host the second game of its series with Tri-County Academy on Friday in Heidelberg. Wayne Academy travels to Prentiss Christian on Friday for game two of that MPSA A series.