wrap it up

Putting a bow on the state’s high school season — which ended with the MHSAA championships in Pearl last week — MaxPreps ranks Magnolia Heights, the MAIS Class 5A champion, as Mississippi’s No. 1 team. The Senatobia-based Chiefs, who had some big wins over out-of-state schools, are No. 22 in MaxPreps’ latest national poll. Madison Central, which beat Brandon in three games for the MHSAA Class 7A championship, is ranked No. 2 in the state, followed by Purvis, West Lauderdale, East Union, Saltillo, Lafayette, Oak Grove, Brandon and Hartfield Academy. West Lauderdale beat Purvis in the MHSAA 4A title series, but Purvis has what many consider the state’s best player: shortstop JoJo Parker. East Union, featuring highly touted pitcher Landon Harmon, was the MHSAA 2A champ. Saltillo won in 6A, Lafayette in 5A. (Seminary won the 3A title and West Union 1A.) Oak Grove lost in the 7A South finals to Brandon, while Hartfield Academy was MAIS 6A runner-up to Presbyterian Christian. … Many of the state’s best players are gathering in Hattiesburg this week for the Crossroads Diamond Club D.M. Howie All-Star Games. The 6A/7A game was slated for Tuesday, the 4A/5A game for tonight and the 1A/2A/3A game for Thursday, all at William Carey University’s Wheeler Field. This is the 50th edition of the event. … The state’s Gatorade player of the year will be announced (by Gatorade’s select committee) next month, and it’ll be quite interesting to see who follows Konnor Griffin as the winner of this prestigious award. If pro prospect status holds any sway, Purvis’ Parker (ranked 14th in MLB Pipeline’s latest draft chart), East Union’s Harmon (No. 47) and Lewisburg’s Talon Haley (No. 84) would be considered top candidates. JoJo Parker’s brother Jacob — they shared the state’s 4A Mr. Baseball title — Oak Grove’s Maddox Miller, Sumrall’s Leo Odom, Petal’s Tanner Beliveau, Hartfield’s J.P. Abt and Magnolia Heights’ Cole Prosek are others worthy of mention. The Gatorade committee considers both on-field and off-field accomplishments. The last seven winners were Jackson Prep’s Griffin (also the national player of the year), Cooper Pratt, Dakota Jordan, Braden Montgomery, Blaze Jordan, Colt Keith and J.T. Ginn. All are currently in pro ball, with Keith and Ginn on MLB rosters. P.S. Update from Enid: Pearl River Community College rallied from an early deficit to beat East Central CC 7-6 on a walk-off double in the ninth inning by Topher Jones. Second-seeded Pearl River, 2-0 in the NJCAA Division II College World Series, advances to the bracket final. Six-seed East Central, 2-1 in Enid, plays Southeastern Iowa tonight in an elimination game, with the winner taking on PRCC Thursday for a berth in the World Series finals. No. 1 seed Pasco-Hernando State (Fla.) is 2-0 in the other bracket.