The 2026 MHSAA State Championships are underway at Trustmark Park, as teams from across the state battle for a chance to bring home a state title. Throughout the week, some of Mississippi’s top talent will take the field in Pearl, delivering high-level competition, standout individual performances, and memorable moments on the biggest stage of the high school season. Each day, we’ll recap all the action from the MHSAA State Championship games at Trustmark Park.

See all scores from the State Championship series HERE.

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+ SALTILLO (5) VS. PEARL RIVER CENTRAL (0)

Saltillo closed out the week in dominant fashion on Thursday at Trustmark Park, shutting out Pearl River Central 5-0 behind a combined no-hit effort from Will Goodson and Lanston Kent. Goodson set the tone early, tossing 6.2 hitless innings while striking out five and working around five walks before Kent entered in relief to record the final out and complete the shutout. The Tigers grabbed control in the second inning with a three-run frame fueled by RBI hits from Cooper Childs, Madden McKissick, and Maddox Arriola, then continued to apply pressure throughout the night. Childs led the offense with a 2-for-3 performance and two RBIs, while Saltillo totaled eight hits and played a clean game defensively without committing an error. Arriola anchored the defense with nine chances in the field, and Levin Darsey added pressure on the bases with two stolen bags as the Tigers controlled the game from start to finish in the 5-0 win.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES FROM GAME 3 📝

• Cooper Childs (Saltillo) had 2 hits, one being a double and 2 RBI's
• Levin Darsey, Logan Heisel, Tucker Phillips, Ejay Rogers, Madden McKissick & Maddox Arriola each had one hit for the Tigers
• Will Goodson (Saltillo) 6.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 BB & 5 K's
• Cole Bounds (PRC) 5 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB

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+ TAYLORSVILLE (10) VS. WEST UNION (8)

Taylorsville built an early cushion and held off a late rally from West Union to secure a 10-8 win on Thursday, evening the series after a back-and-forth battle at Trustmark Park. The Tartars came out swinging early, scoring twice in the first inning before adding on in the second behind RBI hits from Terry Barnes, Noah Westbrook, and Cage Blakeney to build momentum. Taylorsville eventually stretched the lead to eight runs before West Union mounted a late charge, cutting into the deficit with a flurry of extra-base hits and patient at-bats down the stretch. Blakeney paced the offense with a 3-for-4 performance, while Barnes, Slater Arender, and Westbrook also recorded multi-hit games as the Tartars finished with 14 hits and four stolen bases. Tanner Horn earned the win on the mound, and Barnes later picked up the save to close things out. West Union continued to battle offensively behind Jon Grey Morrison, who drove in four runs and reached base multiple times, while Mack Wallis and Jaxon Herod each added multi-hit efforts. Despite drawing 10 walks and putting together a late push, the Eagles were unable to overcome Taylorsville’s explosive early innings in the 10-8 final.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES FROM GAME 2 📝

• Terry Barnes (Taylorsville) was 2-5 with an RBI
• Noah Westbrook (Taylorsville) was 2-3 with a double and 1 RBI
• Dryver Blakeney (Taylorsville) was 2-3 with 2 RBI's
• Cage Blakeney (Taylorsville) went 3-4 including a double and 3 RBI's
• Slater Arender (Taylorsville) added 2 hits and 1 RBI
• Easton Ford, JaCorbin Sullivan and Luke Hegwood each added one hit for the Tartars
• Jaxon Herod (West Union) had two hits and reached twice on a pair of walks
• Jon Grey Morrisson (West Union) had a triple and 4 RBI's
• Mack Wallis (West Union) had a pair of hits and tallied 3 RBI's
• Tyson Henry, Jake Foreman, Braxton Burks, Cooper Newby & Logan Newby each had one hit for the Eagles.

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+ MIZE (3) VS. EAST WEBSTER (0)

Mize rode a dominant no-hit performance from Holder McAlpin to a 3-0 win over East Webster on Thursday, as pitching took center stage in a tightly contested matchup. McAlpin was outstanding from start to finish, recording all 21 outs while allowing no hits and striking out nine across a complete-game shutout. The Bulldogs broke through offensively in the fourth inning when Josiah Ainsworth delivered an RBI single before Walker Sullivan followed with a two-run double to provide all the offense Mize would need. Sullivan drove in two runs from the bottom half of the lineup, while Ainsworth added a pair of hits to lead the Bulldogs offensively. East Webster starter Jordan Gaskin also turned in a strong outing with eight strikeouts over six innings, but Mize capitalized on its scoring opportunities and backed McAlpin’s dominant effort with clean defense to secure the 3-0 victory.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES FROM GAME 1 📝

• Holder McAlpin (Mize) 7 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 BB & 9 K's
• Josiah Ainsworth (Mize) 2-3 with an RBI
• Trey Myers, Graham Davis, Garrison Carrell & Walker Sullivan each had one hit for Mize
• Jordan Gaskin (East Webster) 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB & 8 K's

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+ PETAL (7) VS. OXFORD (4)

Petal used timely offense and aggressive baserunning to secure a 7-4 win over Oxford on Thursday at Trustmark Park, led by a big day at the plate from Trey Barnes. Barnes went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, consistently setting the tone offensively while helping the Panthers maintain momentum throughout the game. Petal struck first in the opening inning before Barnes added to the lead with a solo shot to left in the third, though Oxford answered to tie things up behind an RBI single from Ford Wade. The Panthers regained control in the fourth when Dawson Dykes delivered a two-run single to put Petal back in front for good. Cooper Smith earned the win on the mound, allowing just four hits across five innings, while Easton Giger later appeared in relief to help close things out. Petal continued to pressure Oxford with patience at the plate and speed on the bases, drawing seven walks and stealing eight bags in the victory. Fischer Howell added a multi-hit performance, while Barnes and Howell each swiped multiple bases as the Panthers controlled the pace offensively in the 7-4 win.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES FROM GAME 2 📝

• Trey Barnes (Petal) was 3-4 with a HR and 2 RBI's
• Fischer Howell (Petal) was 2-3 with a double
• Dawson Dykes and Jordan Freeman each had one hit for Petal
• Cooper Smith (Petal) 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB & 2 K's
• Easton Giger (Petal) 2 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB & 2 K's
• Ford Wade (Oxford) was 1-2 with 2 RBI's
• Logan Dorrell (Oxford) was 2-3 with an RBI
• James Blackwood, Pryce Pinkins and Hogan Overby each had one hit for Oxford

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UPCOMING 2026 EVENTS ⤵️

SHOWCASE	DATE	LOCATION
South Mississippi Summer ID	06/02	Pearl River CC - Poplarville, MS
South Mississippi Rising Stars ID	06/02	Pearl River CC - Poplarville, MS
Magnolia State Games	06/09-06/10	Freedom Ridge Park - Ridgeland, MS
Central Mississippi Summer ID	06/23	Clinton HS - Clinton, MS
Central Mississppi Rising Stars ID	06/23	Clinton HS - Clinton, MS
Starkville Summer ID	06/30	Starkville HS - Starkville, MS
Starkville Rising Stars ID	06/30	Starkville HS - Starkville, MS
Hattiesburg Summer ID	07/07	University of Southern Miss - Hattiesburg, MS
Hattiesburg Rising Stars ID	07/07	University of Southern Miss - Hattiesburg, MS
Oxford Summer ID	07/14	Oxford HS - Oxford, MS
Oxford Rising Stars ID	07/14	Oxford HS - Oxford, MS
Jackson Summer ID	08/08	Jackson Prep - Flowood, MS
Jackson Rising Stars ID	08/08	Jackson Prep - Flowood, MS

 

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