By Brad Greer
South Panola’s post-season playoff hopes came to an end Tuesday night in Starkville as the Tigers fell 4-1 to the Yellowjackets in the final district contest of the season. Starkville will now enter the North State 6A playoffs as the Region 2 runner-up and will take on top-ranked Madison Central in a best-of-three series beginning next Friday.

Starkville starting pitcher R. J. Johnson (4-2) struck out 14 South Panola batters while giving up three hits on the night while Matt Hendrix, (2-5) look the loss on the mound for the Tigers.

South Panola, (11-15; 3-6) scored their only run in the sixth inning on a RBI single by Chris Townsend. Lee Self belted a triple and Zack Horne added a bunt single for the Tigers only other hits.

Starkville (13-7;5-4) added to its 1-0 lead in the third inning on Chuck Tillery’s two-run home run while Blake Dawkins added a RBI single in the fifth to round out scoring for the ‘Jackets.
South Panola will end the regular season, weather permitting, tomorrow by hosting Desoto Central at 1 p.m. and Greenville at 5:30. The Tiger Junior Varsity will get things started at 11 a.m. versus Desoto Central.