The CCS Baseball Tournament runs from Wednesday through Saturday at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi. The event features six teams competing in a double-elimination format, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament, according to tournament organizers.
Belhaven, the No. 2 seed, will face LaGrange in the opening game Wednesday at 11 a.m. The Blazers finished the regular season at 28-11 and are on a three-game winning streak after sweeping Asbury to close the regular season. They boast a team batting average of .305 and a .421 on-base percentage, with 300 runs scored.
The Blazers’ offense is led by Austin Canale, who is hitting .355 with 40 RBIs. Hayden Roberts is batting .352, JD Weed is at .343, and Parker Ryan has five home runs. On the mound, Gunner Staten has a 3.38 ERA, Cole Burton holds opponents to a .202 batting average, and John Wade has eight saves, the second-most in NCAA Division III.
While technically a neutral site, Belhaven has played at Trustmark Park this season and maintains a strong 21-1 record at home. The team enters the tournament as one of the favorites, with a record of 28-11 and 77 stolen bases. They have won three straight games heading into the event.
Other contenders include Piedmont, the top seed, which has the league’s best offense, and Maryville, which has the league’s top ERA at 4.32. Huntingdon, the defending champion, emphasizes pitching and defense, while LaGrange, the five seed, features a potent offense with a .329 team batting average. Asbury rounds out the field, with talented arms and offensive potential.
The tournament schedule begins Wednesday with three games at Trustmark Park. The winners advance through the bracket, with the final game set for Saturday. All games will be streamed on the CCS Network, and spectators are encouraged to attend. For updates, follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram or like Belhaven Athletics on Facebook.
