By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

KILN — The George County Lady Rebels softball team rallied in the fourth inning, picking up four hits and scoring four runs to build an insurmountable lead over the Hancock Lady Hawks on Tuesday. The Lady Rebels would go on to get the 9-3 win to open district play for both teams.

The game was a rematch from last year’s Class 6A South State championship which Hancock took two games to one.

The Lady Rebels would take a 5-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning after scoring the four runs in the inning with one out.

Blakely Slay opened the inning with a single to left field. Braylee Bishop would get on base with a hit ball, and Hadleigh Tatum would load the bases with a single.

Hancock would make the play at home for the first out of the inning, but the next batter Alexis O’Neal’s single to left field would score two runs. The Lady Hawks made the play at third base as Tatum attempted to steal third.

A throwing error to first base put Aryana Dixon on base as another run scored for the Lady Rebels. Dixon would steal to third base, and Jordyn Bradley’s single to left field would send her home for the fourth score of the inning.

“Really good team win,” said Lady Rebels coach Anna Grace Cooley. “Really good on defense and timely hits, and good pitching by both pitchers.”

Peyton Collins started on the mound for the Lady Rebels and got the win, giving up only four runs in five innings. Addison Davis closed out the game on the mound for the Lady Rebels without giving up a hit in two innings.

Teegan DeWitt got the Lady Hawks on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run over the left field fence. The Lady Hawks would add two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as Brylie Smith singled to centerfield driving in two runs.

DeWitt went the distance on the mound for the Lady Hawks, giving up 12 hits over seven innings.

“We didn’t play very well,” said Hancock coach Josef Rankin. ”That’s what it boils down to. George County took advantage of our lack of execution in some areas.”

Tatum led the Lady Rebels at the plate with three singles, O’Neal had two hits (single and a double), Slay had two hits (2 singles), and Dixon finished with two hits (HR and a single). Bradley, Paisley Pipkins and Davis each recorded a single.

Kenleigh McIver led Hancock with two hits, a single and a double. DeWitt (HR) and Smith (single) each had one hit.

George County improved to 15-1 (1-0, district) with the win. Hancock’s record is 11-2 (0-1, district).

The teams meet in in their second district matchup in Lucedale on Friday.