POPLARVILLE, Miss. — One of the nation's toughest postseason fields is headed to Pearl River Community College's Wildcat Stadium April 30–May 3, as the Wildcats host the Region 23 Tournament for the first time since 2019.
Second-seeded Pearl River earned the right to host one side of the bracket after finishing second in the MACCC. The Wildcats enter postseason play at 40-6 overall and 24-4 in conference action, riding an 11-game winning streak. PRCC has also been dominant at home, going 18-2 inside Wildcat Stadium this season.
ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT
The four-day event opens April 30 with a win-or-go-home play-in game between 7-seed Meridian and 10-seed Northeast at 4 p.m. The winner advances into the four-team, double-elimination bracket beginning May 1 and will face Pearl River. The other opening-round matchup features 3-seed Jones College and 6-seed Itawamba, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m., while the Wildcats' opener against the play-in winner begins at 3 p.m.
All five teams on Pearl River's side of the bracket have spent time in the NJCAA rankings this season, highlighting the depth of the field. The opposite side of the bracket will be hosted by top-seeded Copiah-Lincoln and includes LSU Eunice, Northwest, Hinds and Southwest.
The winners of each bracket will earn automatic bids to the NJCAA Division II World Series, scheduled for May 19–24 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The two advancing teams will also meet May 6 for the Region 23 Championship at the highest remaining seed.
TICKETS
Tickets are available now at PRCCAthletics.com/tickets for $15 per day. All Pearl River box offices are cashless, and fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.
ABOUT PEARL RIVER
Pearl River enters the postseason with one of the most complete rosters in the country. Offensively, the Wildcats are hitting .367 with a .459 on-base percentage and a .603 slugging percentage, including 60 home runs — a mark that ranks 10th nationally. In the circle, PRCC has been just as dominant, ranking sixth nationally in ERA (2.19) and strikeouts per seven innings (8.55), fifth in total strikeouts (360) and WHIP (1.10), and ninth in runs allowed (116).
Freshman Shania Fondren (Batesville; South Panola) leads the offense, slashing .422/.509/1.102 with a program-record 25 home runs, 69 RBIs and 50 runs scored. Campbell commit Natalee Eaves (Louisville; Choctaw Central) is hitting .443 with 11 doubles, eight home runs and 55 RBIs, while Jaycee Holifield (Laurel; Stringer) has added 15 home runs and 46 RBIs. The Wildcats' depth is evident, with multiple regulars hitting above .300, including Addy Grace Alexander (Poplarville) (.418), Maeli Ben (Conehatta; Newton County) (.391), Kai Goodman (New Orleans, La.; John Curtis) (.378), Anastasia Acree (Mobile, Ala.; Alma Bryant) (.364) and Emmaleigh Theriot (Prairieville, La.; St. Amant) (.310).
In the circle, Ana-Grace Garcia (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's) anchors a dominant trio with a 17-1 record, 2.37 ERA and 133 strikeouts across 124 innings. Ann Elise Duncan (McComb; Brookhaven Academy) has posted a 2.20 ERA with 117 strikeouts, while Teegan DeWitt (Pass Christian; Hancock) owns a 1.87 ERA with 110 strikeouts, giving Pearl River one of the deepest pitching staffs in the country.
ABOUT JONES COLLEGE
Jones College enters the tournament at 45-8 overall and 24-4 in conference play, riding a 12-game winning streak. The Bobcats are hitting .352 as a team with a .425 on-base percentage and a .571 slugging percentage. Mary Kimble Price leads the offense with a .434 average, 72 hits and 64 RBIs, while Mabry Eason has powered the lineup with 22 home runs and 14 doubles.
In the circle, Jones holds a 3.00 ERA with 288 strikeouts, led by Madison Sawyer, who boasts a 2.33 ERA and an 18-1 record with 115 strikeouts. Pearl River and Jones split their regular-season meetings, with the Wildcats dropping a 4-0 decision before responding with a 4-2 win.
ABOUT ITAWAMBA
Itawamba enters the postseason at 35-15 overall and 17-11 in MACCC play. The Indians are hitting .312 with a .401 on-base percentage and a .508 slugging percentage, including 53 home runs. AB Marlar leads the team with a .439 average, 16 home runs and 48 RBIs, while Ella Duhon is hitting .333 with 22 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.
In the circle, ICC boasts a 2.52 ERA and 1.12 WHIP — both ranking 15th nationally — while striking out 372 batters. Ramsey Montgomery leads the way with a 1.95 ERA and 194 strikeouts across 136 2/3 innings, paired with a 0.98 WHIP, while Lizzie Meeks has added a 2.32 ERA across 102 2/3 innings.
ABOUT MERIDIAN
Meridian enters at 31-22 overall and 17-11 in conference play, riding a six-game winning streak. The Eagles are hitting .315 with a .395 on-base percentage and a .530 slugging percentage, totaling 52 home runs. Alex Layfield leads the offense with a .373 average, 14 home runs, 12 doubles and 47 RBIs.
In the circle, Meridian owns a 5.01 ERA and 1.76 WHIP with 127 strikeouts. Willa Simmons has logged a team-high 96 innings with a 4.89 ERA and a 10-8 record, while Isabella White has posted a 4.61 ERA across 85 innings.
ABOUT NORTHEAST
Northeast Mississippi enters the postseason at 38-14 overall and 15-13 in conference play. The Tigers feature one of the most explosive offenses in the country, hitting .362 with 64 home runs. Kendall Bragg leads the way with a .463 average, 45 RBIs and 14 doubles, while Leah Walker has collected a team-high 72 hits with 16 doubles and seven home runs.
In the circle, Northeast owns a 3.93 ERA and 1.47 WHIP with 207 strikeouts. Emma Abrams leads the staff with a 3.05 ERA and 115 strikeouts across 140 innings, while Sophie Grant has posted a 3.71 ERA in 120 2/3 innings.
HOW TO WATCH
All home Region 23 Tournament games will be livestreamed for free at PRCCMedia.com/Gold. Fans with Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch the Wildcat broadcasts by downloading the "Pearl River CC" channel from their app stores.
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