By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — For the second consecutive game in the Class 6A state championship series, Hancock and South Panola hooked up in an old-timey pitchers duel.

 And, for the second straight contest, the Lady Tigers scored a late run to break open a tie and pull out a win.

The latest outcome, however, here at the University of Southern Mississippi Softball Complex. resulted in a state championship for South Panola.

South Panola’s Shania Fondren led off the bottom of the sixth by blasting a solo home run to left field to break a scoreless deadlock and give the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead that would eventually be the final score.

That came on the heels of a squandered opportunity by the Lady Hawks who missed a huge chance in the top of the sixth to break the scoreless tie. Hancock got its first two runners on thanks to an error and a walk, but a pop up and then a double play ended any threat.

South Panola pitcher Sadie Bright, the Class 6A Miss Softball in the state of Mississippi this season, then came on in the bottom of the seventh to relieve Lady Tiger starter Grady Wilson. 

Hancock was able to make a little noise for the second straight inning, as after Bright recorded two quick outs Cambria Necaise singled and Addie Campbell followed with a walk.

But Bright bounced back and struck out the final HHS batter to send the Lady Tigers into a jubilant on-field celebration and their first state title since 2008.

There was only four runs total scored between the two teams in the two games. Hancock would allow three of those runs, but only run was earned.

The game Thursday came on the heels of a 2-1 win by SPHS Tuesday, when the Lady Tigers overcame a late 1-0 deficit with a single run in both of the sixth and seventh stanzas to pull out the win in the opening game of the best of three title series.

Wilson took the pitching win in the series-clincher Thursday with her six solid shutout stanzas of work, allowing three hits and striking out three. Bright, who was named the Most Valuable Player in the series, earned the save in the second game and the win in the opener.

For the second straight game, Hancock starting pitcher Teegan Dewitt went the distance and suffered the tough luck loss. She scattered three hits and struck out five.

Necaise had a game-high two hits for Hancock, as the Lady Hawks were denied their first ever state softball title in school history.