Poplarville captured its sixth straight district championship in prep slow pitch softball action Tuesday night.

The Lady Hornets trounced homestanding Forrest County AHS 17-2, securing the title in the process.

“It’s always one of our goals when we start the season, to win the district and make the playoffs,” veteran Lady Hornets head coach Jonathan Ray said. “Now we need to spend the next two weeks improving and getting ready for the playoffs.”

Poplarville moved to 14-4 overall and 3-1 in league play with the win. Greene County finished second and qualified for the Class 4A state playoffs as well.

The Lady Hornets will open the state playoffs on Tuesday, Oct. 9th hosting West Lauderdale in a best-of-three series.

“We just need to work on getting more consistent in all phases of the game,”  Ray added. “One night we play defense well and don’t hit the ball, and the next game it might be just the opposite. We just have to be more consistent all around if we are going to make a run in the playoffs.”

Sam Gentry got the district-clinching win for Poplarville.

Greene County handed Poplarville its only district loss last week, 7-6. But the Lady Hornets beat GCHS 6-1 earlier in the season to take the title by the run differential tie-breaker.

Poplarville will have plenty of action in preparing for the playoffs, beginning today when the Lady Hornets host Purvis in a varsity doubleheader at 5:30.

After taking the weekend off, Poplarville hosts West Harrison Tuesday before traveling to D’Iberville on Thursday.

One week from Saturday, on Oct. 6th, Poplarville will host West Harrison, West Lauderdale and Newton County in the annual Pete Jackson Tournament. In the past the event has been the season-opening affair, but this season the tourney will  conclude the regular season.

Newton County is currently ranked number one in the state, and stands 22-0 on the season. The Lady Cougars are the prohibitive favorite in Class 4A South State, according to Ray.