By CURTIS ROCKWELL

Item Sports Editor

The last time that Picayune and Lawrence County met on the baseball diamond was the Class 4A South state semifinals in 2002.

Not only did the Maroon Tide win that series, they also went on to win the only state title in school history a few weeks later.

This week, as Picayune faces the Cougars again in the the same round of the postseason as they did seven years ago, the Maroon Tide and their followers are hoping history repeats itself.

Picayune hosts Lawrence County at 6 p.m., Friday in game one of the best of three series. The survivor of this series will face the winner of the East Central-West Jones match-up for the South State championship next week.

“They are a scrappy team, a lot like Vancleave was,” Picayune head coach Cayne Stockstill said. “They put the ball in play, and make things happen.”

Stockstill, whose team swept Vancleave, got to see the Cougars in action on Saturday as they beat Wayne County 14-5 in game three of that series.

“It was a great day for our kids and for our program,” said fifth-year Cougar coach Cory Keyes told the Brookhaven Daily Leader. “Our kids showed a lot of character, coming back from the loss in game two. We’re just thrilled to be playing another week.”

Lawrence County is the Division 6-4A champion, while Picayune is the Division 8-4A champ.

Picayune has won four straight playoff games and six games overall entering the third round of the playoffs.

“I just hope we can keep the momentum going.” Stockstill added. “We have been finding ways to win all year long. The kids have just been outstanding. They never give up.”