Despite the fact that the state prep baseball playoffs start Thursday night, both Picayune and Pearl River Central won’t join the postseason party for almost a week.

But the Blue Devils and Maroon Tide, however, are in the midst of preparing for their quest for a Class 5A state title.

Picayune is coming off an 8-0 loss to Poplarville Tuesday night. The Maroon Tide will travel to Sumrall tonight at 6 P.m., to take on the always powerful Bobcats.

Pearl River Central, meanwhile, played a pair of road games this week beating Petal 15-7 Tuesday and falling to Stanislaus 3-2 Wednesday night in eight innings. The Blue Devils will play homestanding Gulfport in a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m., Saturday.

. Against Petal, Chance Putnam picked up the win. Christian Travis had four hits, including a double, and drove in three runs while Christian Smith added a pair of hits including a triple and drove in a pair of runs. Mason Songy also had two hits and an RBI.

Dylan Spiers threw the first seven innings against the Rockachaws, before Blake Caruso took the Los in relief in the extra frame. Putnam drove in two runs with a pair of hits, and Spiers had two hits and an RBI as well.