In a season where everyone in the division has a varying level of inexperience and youth in their starting lineups, it looks like the Loyd Star Hornets are the front runner in Region 7-2A baseball.

Monday, the Hornets got 10 hits at the plate in a 10-1 win over division rival Wesson. Loyd Star is now 5-5 overall and 4-0 in the division after sweeping a three-game series last week from Bogue Chitto.

The loss drops Wesson to 3-6 overall and 3-1 in Region 7-2A. The Cobras opened division play last week with a sweep of West Lincoln in their three-game series.

LS coach Jared Britt started two seniors in the field Monday — Co-Lin signee Wyatt Hodges at third and Harrison Hux in left field.

On the mound he called on crafty junior southpaw Dawson Hester. Hester struck out 10 in six innings. He gave up just one hit and one unearned run on 99 pitches.

Hester, Hodges and junior Riley Easterling give Britt three quality arms to throw in a three-game week.

Out of the pen, Britt can use 6-foot-3 senior Craig Bass. Bass got the call Monday night and pitched the seventh inning. He only needed 11 pitches to finish things up as he got back-to-back strikeouts to finish the game.

“Dawson did a good job of locating his pitches early in the game and was able to throw his breaking ball at any point in the count to keep them off balance,” said Britt. “He had the stomach virus the night before, so I was very happy about his performance — I know how draining that can be.”

Sophomore catcher Casen DeHart was a monster at the plate for Loyd Star. DeHart had a double, a home run and drove in four runs on the night.

Hux, Easterling and Caleb Smith each also had a double apiece for Loyd Star as well. All three also drove in two runs each.

Sophomore Blake Thornton had two hits for LS while Hodges, Connor Cunningham and Carter Holcomb all also hit safely for the Hornets.

Sophomore catcher Will Loy recorded the lone hit for Wesson coach Vance Windom. Junior Turner Green drove in the run for Wesson.

Connor Diamond, Cody Brown, Larson Lewis and Preston Lee are senior starters for Windom. Sophomore Gabe Selman took the loss on the mound. Selman pitched the first five innings while Lewis finished up the final two frames.

Wesson will still have left-handed junior Brett Boutwell and Loy to throw at Loyd Star when the teams meet later in the week — weather permitting.

“I told them after the game that they’ve just got to believe in themselves, because I believe in them,” said Windom. “We’re a good team and work too hard not to show it.”

The teams are scheduled to meet again Friday at Loyd Star for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.