After an exciting regular season, the playoffs are now here for area high school baseball and softball teams, with some feeling confident ahead of their postseason trek. Here’s a look at the upcoming games.
Caledonia
Caledonia ended both its regular seasons in softball and baseball as Region 1-5A champions for an automatic No. 1 seed in their respective playoffs.
For the Cavaliers’ softball squad it was a three-peat in region titles but first in its new 5A classification. The Cavs rampaged through the conference games with a 9-1 record and closed out the year with 21 wins and only three losses. The team is slated as the No. 3 unit in all of 5A, according to Max Preps, and is set to host No. 4 seed Holmes County Central (0-13) to begin the postseason. Game 1 of the doubleheader begins today at 4:30 p.m. and Game 2 will start at 6 p.m.
“The girls are excited about the playoffs getting started,” head coach Andy Finch said. “…They are excited about the first round, and not looking forward past our opponent, but we’re taking it day-by-day. We like to look at it that we’re planning for four more weeks of playoffs. That’s what our mindset is, that’s what our girls’ mindsets are and they’ve bought in, they’re locked in and they are working hard at practice. … They’re excited and they’re ready to go.”
The team looks to have a fairly simple entrance into the playoffs against Holmes County, which clocks into the contest winless on the year.
“It’s a tune-up game going into the second round,” he said. “I’m not knocking that district, but I believe that our district is the toughest district in 5A overall, especially in the North, and we’ve played good teams because of our district. When we get to these playoff games it’s almost like a breather in a way with some of the things like that, but we’re going in there with the mindset, ‘Hey, we are going to take two games.’ This game is just as important as if it was a state championship.”
It’s a sentiment that some of the Cavs themselves share with Finch.
“I feel like our team is prepared and has been working harder than it ever has, so I feel like we can make it far in the playoffs,” said sophomore Molly Harlow, who is second on the team in hits (25) with a .431 batting average.
After capturing the Region 3-4A championship last season, Caledonia found itself also feeling good heading into the postseason but had its title dreams dashed in the second round. Harlow believes this year is different for her team.
“I feel like we are more developed this year and we know what to expect from each team, so I feel like we can do better,” she said.
“I’m excited,” said junior teammate Katelyn Hill. “I think everybody is excited all around. I think definitely we are more developed and I feel like our team chemistry is better. We all get along a whole lot better than we did last year so we just play better on the field.”
The Cavaliers’ baseball team finished out its region games with an 8-2 record and on a seven-game win streak, and they were set to begin postseason play against Provine but the team has informed the Cavs it is forfeiting and ending its season. This gives Caledonia (19-9) an extra two wins and automatically advances it to the quarterfinals where it will play the winner between New Hope and Cleveland Central.
New Hope
The Trojans’ softball squad (17-12, 7-3) finished second in Region 1-5A and earned the No. 2 seed in the tournament. They’ll open the first round with a homestanding series against No. 3 seed Vicksburg (5-22) that begins at 6 p.m. Friday.
The Trojans closed out the year on a five-game win streak and will take that momentum into their game with the Gators, who finished third in Region 2-5A on a two-game win streak. Vicksburg has struggled through the most of the regular season being outscored 387-125. New Hope held a 213 –110 scoring advantage to close out its regular season.
Game 2 is 6 p.m. Saturday and if needed Game 3 will start at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
The Trojan’s No. 3-seeded baseball team takes a five-game win streak into its postseason debut against No. 2 Cleveland Central. New Hope (16-11) ended its regular season on a five-game win streak in which it outscored its foes 76-2.
“It’s been a good little streak toward the end of the year and we just hope we can keep that going,” head coach Lee Boyd said.
The Trojans will be on the road for Game 1 on Friday at 6 p.m. but will return home at 6 p.m. for Game 2. Game 3, if needed, will be held at Cleveland Central at 6 p.m. Sunday. At 10-15, the Wolves have been outscored 209-200 on the season. New Hope has seen a surge in its offense and holds a 208-95 scoring advantage. Boyd said his squad will just have to keep playing good team baseball to come out on top.
“We’ve kind of been up and down but the ticket in the playoffs is the team that plays sound defense and pitches really well and then gets the big hit when people are on base (wins),” he said. “It’s easy to say and hard to do, so we’re hoping it works out for us.”
Starkville
The Yellow Jackets got hot toward the end of the regular season and won seven of their last eight games to set up a regular-season finale at Tupelo today. Win or lose, No. 3 seed Starkville (18-9) will still begin its postseason at the No. 2 seed Golden Wave (20-7) on Friday in a doubleheader.
Tupelo and Starkville have played one game already this season, a 6-1 Golden Wave win. Tupelo, which has outscored its opponents 240-112, has won three of its last five games. Starkville has bested its foes 180-113.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
