The MPSA Class A championship series is in a rain delay.

Game 1 of the series between Porters Chapel and Bayou Academy, scheduled for this afternoon in Cleveland, was postponed until Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Canton Academy.

A week of heavy rains in the Delta left Bayou’s field deluged and unplayable.

“In spring time there’s always factors that play into this. You have weather, graduation, all sorts of things. It’s not a big deal,” PCA coach Randy Wright said.

Wright and Bayou coach Rodney Martin ran through a string of possible solutions on Monday. An alternate site, such as Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson — which has artificial turf — and Canton Academy, where Bayou played Game 3 of its North State championship series against North Delta last week, were considered.

Another option was playing Game 1 at PCA and then playing Games 2 and 3 as a doubleheader Thursday in Cleveland. Wright, wanting to use his ace pitcher Montana McDaniel in both Game 1 and Game 3 if needed, quickly shot down that idea.

Bayou was not only pushed to a Game 3 last week, but also played it on Saturday because of bad weather. That, Wright said, gives the Colts an advantage the longer the series is delayed.

“It’s definitely an advantage for them to push this back because we’re rested and ready and they’re not,” Wright said. “We’re going to try and play as soon as we can, but we’re at the mercy of them.

“ It’s their home game and they can say when they want to play.”

Or, at least, they can dictate it up to a point.

Both schools have graduation ceremonies planned for later in the week — Bayou on Friday, and PCA on Saturday. To avoid a conflict, Game 3 could be pushed to Monday.

Whenever the series starts, it must end, however, by next Wednesday. The MPSA all-star games are scheduled for May 16, and players are due to report next Thursday.

The MPSA has thus declared that all championship series must be completed by May 20.

Wright said that was too far off to contemplate right now.

“All we’re worried about is Game 1,” he said. “That’s all I’m worried about is when and where Game 1 is played, and putting us in a position to win it.”

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Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com