As defending MACJC state champion, the Meridian Community College Eagles will find themselves the target of five other teams when they host this year’s event at Scaggs Field today through Sunday.

And that’s a position the Eagles don’t mind being in.

Meridian, which enters the tournament with a 31-16 record, takes on Northwest Mississippi, 16-26, tonight at 7 p.m. in their first game. Itawamba, 35-11, and Southwest, 31-9, open the tournament at 1 p.m. with Gulf Coast, 34-14, taking on Holmes, 35-12, at 4 p.m.

“It’s a state tournament and there’s a lot of importance within the state of doing your best to win this tournament,” said MCC head coach Chris Rose.

“I know we’re going to come out and get their best.

“All the coaches I’ve talked to are under the same opinion that anybody that’s in this tournament has a chance to win it. Everybody’s No. 1 on the mound is very similar. But I feel very good about our chances solely because we’re here and playing at our own field and sleeping in our own beds.

“We’re the defending state champions, so we look to defend our title starting (today). You win one game and you advance to the regional.”

Next week’s Region 23 winner will advance to the NJCAA Division II World Series at Millington, Tenn.

The Eagles will go with Michael Robbins (6-4, 3.03 ERA) on the mound in tonight’s game. Other top pitchers are Travis Bogue (5-2, 2.33), Wade Weathers (4-1, 2.44), Lee Swindle (2-2, 2.88), Kedrick Martin (4-3, 3.59) and Brent Sharpe (6-2, 4.09).

Top hitters for the Eagles are Michael Guerrero (.405, 19 2B, 13 HR, 43 RBI), Drew Moffett (.358), Wes Council (.338, 9 2B, 4 HR, 34 RBI), Trey Jones (.331, 8 2B, 4 HR, 28 RBI), Nathan Wright (.320, 5 HR, 22 RBI) and Joe Scalzo (.302, 6 2B, 26 RBI).

The Central Division champion Eagles have a .303 team batting average with a 3.40 staff ERA. MCC has hit 48 home runs.

Northwest, the North Division runner-up, comes in with a .317 team batting average with 39 homers and 36 stolen bases. The Rangers have a 5.54 team ERA.

Top hitters are Michael Ross (.406, 7 2B, 5 HR, 20 RBI), Calvin Kirkland (.365, 4 2B, 4 HR, 17 RBI), Charlie Edwards (.364, 5 HR, 36 RBI), Chad Cregar (.323, 4 HR, 22 RBI) and John David Beane (.322, 6 HR, 24 RBI).

Top pitchers are Chase Ware (4-3, 4.11), Brent Biggs (3-7, 4.76), Chris Garrett (2-5, 5.70) and Wil Hylander (4-3, 7.07).

Holmes split with Meridian, losing 4-2 and winning 11-1, and beat Hinds 6-1 to close out the regular season. The Bulldogs finished 10-5 in the Central Division to finish in second place. Among the key players for Holmes is right-handed pitcher Scott McCrory.

Itawamba went 16-0 to take the North Division championship.

Gulf Coast closed out the regular season by sweeping Southwest 4-2 and 7-3 to capture the South Division championship. The Bulldogs finished 12-4 in the league, while Southwest fell to 11-5.

Top players for Gulf Coast include pitchers Martin Beno, an Oklahoma State signee, and Chris Chapman.

The Bears, who have been ranked as high as No. 3 nationally, have a familiar face on their coaching staff in former Mississippi State standout Pete Young, who serves as pitching coach.

Among the top players for Southwest are pitcher Bryn Meredith and Washington Nationals draft choice Pat Barnes, a center fielder, who batted .464 as a freshman.