Experts have projected Ole Miss, State, and Southern Miss to be NCAA Tournament teams or regional hosts. As usual, Division II features a strong team in Delta State with a record 4-1 start. Pete Taylor Park will be the focal point for pro scouts, and many eyes will be outside of Mississippi. USM just came off its 50th-best-ever season. State just came off a 40-win campaign in which it defeated USM in the same park to reach an NCAA Super Regional. State will put Konnor Pilkington (a junior left-hander) as its first round pick. USM will counter this with Nick Sandlin (a junior right-hander who has been a lights-out closer in two seasons and is a pre-season All-American). USM’s Matt Wallner is another preseason All-American slugger. His 97 mph fastball, wicked slider, and 97 mph fastball were almost un-hittable last season when he was a freshman. He is expected to become USM’s closer. Versatile Jake Mangum has a.360 record in two seasons and leads a revamped Mississippi State team. There are many plots and subplots to the three-game series. This includes this: Scott Berry, Southern Miss coach, will not be available for the first two games. Berry was expelled from State’s 8-6 win over USM in the regional championship last spring. Berry was not allowed to leave the field in time and umpires gave Berry a two-game suspension, which will run Friday through Saturday. Berry believes that the punishment didn’t justify the crime but he doesn’t want it to be a focus on it on Thursday morning. Replays also clearly proved the umpire wrong. Berry said that “it is what it was, nobody can do anything about it.” He will be watching the first two games via Conference USA’s webstream from his office. Berry is prohibited from having any contact with his coaches while in the dugout. He said, “I cannot even be on the field before the games for batting practice or fielding.” Berry will be replaced by Chad Caillet, assistant. Berry stated, “I don’t like it but we’ll be fine.” “It just proves again that instant replay is needed in college baseball, particularly in post-season tournament competition. It’s done in basketball and football. Why not in baseball?” Berry believes that replay reviews would decrease the number of umpires/coaches arguments, such as the one that led to his suspension and eventual ejection. This won’t happen this weekend, or during the 2018 college baseball season that holds so many promise for Mississippi teams. Ole Miss is No. 16, USM No. 16, USM No. 23 in Baseball America’s preseason poll. Berry stated that college baseball interest is high all over the country, but especially in Mississippi. “That’s why this series to start the season is so special,” Berry said. The series was declared a sold-out over two weeks ago. The beauty of a matchup between two outstanding teams in their state to open the season has a flip side. One really good team will end the first weekend with a losing record or even a loss. Berry said, “That’s just the nature of the beast.” We’re here to compete. It’s all about winning and this will be the best college baseball competition. It’s something we look forward to, and Mississippi State is too.”