The North Pike Jaguars know where they’ll be heading Thursday to open their run in the 2014 MHSAA South State baseball playoffs.
The Jags, who finished third in the final Region 7-4A standings, have drawn Northeast Lauderdale High School as their first round opponent. North Pike will make the 160-mile trip to Meridian to take on the Trojans in Game 1 Thursday evening before returning home to host Game 2 Friday evening.
Should the two teams split the first two games, both the Jags and the Trojans would travel back to Meridian for a rubber match at Northeast Lauderdale.
The Bogue Chitto Bobcats also drew their assignment to open the 1A playoffs. The Bobcats will square off with West Lowndes in the first-round in one of the longest-distance matchups in the South State playoffs.
Both schools are separated by a whopping 223 miles, making for a few long road trips in this weekend’s three-game series. Bogue Chitto will travel to West Lowndes for Game 1 on Thursday and would return on Saturday for a third and deciding game if necessary. Game 2 will take place in Bogue Chitto Friday, with West Lowndes making the trek to Lincoln County.
Franklin County will follow its second-place finish in the final Region 7-3A standings with a first round showdown against Philadelphia High School, which finished third in the Region 5-3A standings.
Franklin County will host Game 1 Thursday as the higher seeded team and would subsequently host Game 3 Saturday to decide the series should it reach that point.
The Bulldogs will conclude their regular season tonight with a non-conference showdown in Summit against North Pike. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Lady Jags earn first round bye
The North Pike Lady Jaguars will wait until Monday to begin their 2014 postseason run, thanks to a first round bye awarded to all district champions.
North Pike will await the winner of the series between the No. 2 team in Region 8 and the No. 3 team in Region 6 and will face that team in a best-of-three series.
South State Playoffs
Opening Round
North Pike v. NE Lauderdale
Game 1: North Pike at NE Lauderdale, Thursday, 6 p.m.
Game 2: NE Lauderdale at North Pike, Friday, 6 p.m.
Game 3: North Pike at NE Lauderdale, if necessary, Saturday, time TBD
Bogue Chitto v. West Lowndes
Game 1: Bogue Chitto at West Lowndes, Thursday, time TBD
Game 2: West Lowndes at Bogue Chitto, Friday, time TBD
Game 3: Bogue Chitto at West Lowndes, if necessary, Saturday, time TBD
Franklin County v. Philadelphia
Game 1: Philadelphia at Franklin County, Thursday, 5 p.m.
Game 2: Franklin County at Philadelphia, Friday, 5 p.m.
Game 3: Philadelphia at Franklin County, if necessary, Saturday, time TBD
