By CURTIS ROCKWELL

Item Sports Editor

Perhaps the biggest prep slow pitch softball game in the state this week takes place in Pearl River County tonight.

Poplarville travels to Picayune as the local rivals renew their rivalry on the diamond, and the championship of Region 7-4A as well as playoff seedings and pairings are all on the line.

Poplarville, thanks to an 8-1 win over the Lady Tide two weeks ago, is currently in first place in the league with Picayune in second.

The Lady Tide must beat the Lady Hornets by eight runs tonight in order to take the league crown away from the two time defending champs.

“It’s a big game because you really would like to host in the first round of the playoffs,” Poplarville head coach Jonathan Ray said.

Both teams have already secured berths in the Class 4A South State playoffs which begin next week.

“It’s a lot to easier to be at home that first round,” veteran Picayune head coach Kristie Mitchell said.

The teams will kick off things tonight with a JV game at 5:30 followed by the varsity at 6:30.

The winner of the region hosts Northeast Lauderdale in the first round of the playoffs one week from today while the runner-up will head to Quitman to begin the postseason.