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NATCHEZ — Cathedral High School’s varsity baseball team will look to continue its successful regular season, which included a district championship, into the postseason when the Green Wave takes on the Brookhaven Academy Cougars in the first round of the 2024 MAIS Class 5A South State Playoffs.

Game 1 of this best-of-three opening-round series between the District 4-5A champion and No. 1 seed Green Wave and the District 3-5A No. 4 seed Cougars took place at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Brookhaven Academy. That was Cathedral’s first game since a 17-0 five-inning win at Providence Classical Academy last Tuesday afternoon.

Game 2 of the series will take place at Chester Willis Field on Friday at 4:30 p.m. If there is a Game 3, it will take place about 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

The PCA Knights decided later in the week not to take the long trip from Bossier City, La. to Natchez to take on Cathedral for a varsity doubleheader at Chester Willis Field. Instead, they forfeited both games, giving the Green Wave the outright district title.

“We had an inter-squad game Friday. It was good competition. We spilt the team up in two and played a full seven-inning game,” Green Wave head coach Andrew Beesley said. “I thought they got a lot of work in. They got to see some live arms, which was a good thing with the games being cancelled.”

Cathedral enters the playoffs with a 21-4 overall record. However, the Green Wave cannot take the Cougars lightly. 

“Just making sure they are locked in on the task at hand. We had a good practice Friday and they got some good reps in. I have a good feeling they’re excited for it. They’re ready to get going,” Beesley said.

Beesley added that he hopes that having a week off between games against opposing teams will not affect the team’s mentality and goals — especially against a BA team that defeated the likes of Adams County Christian School, Centreville Academy, Copiah Academy, and Silliman Institute during the regular season

“We played them two times and they were both close games. They have a good pitching staff. They have three guys that can be considered No. 1s on the bump. In my eyes, that’s kind of their strength,” Beesley said. “They’ve got a good shortstop, Avery Griffin. They have a kid named Caleb Authement. He’s a good hitter. I think our pitchers will do a good job and compete.”

Beesley noted that the Green Wave is more than ready for the playoffs to get going and to see if, indeed, his team can make a long postseason run.

“I’m excited for our kids to get a No. 1 seed and excited to get a chance to see our kids go out and compete,” Beesley said.