By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HURLEY — Reigning Class 5A South State champ East Central has had its sights set all season on getting a chance to defend its title and get back to the state championship round.

And now, after a win Thursday, the Lady Hornets can accomplish that feat with one more win over the next two days.

The home-standing Lady Hornets used an outstanding pitching performance from senior hurler Breyona Tanner in game one of its Class 5A South State semifinal round series Thursday to nip North Pike 1-0. Tanner tossed a complete game shutout striking out seven in the process to pick up the win.

A win either on the road in Summit Friday night or back at home Saturday would push East Central back into the Class 5A South State finals again where it would face longtime arch-rival Vancleave next week.

In game one against the Lady Jags, East Central broke through in the bottom of the fourth frame against North Pike starter Anna Claire Weber to snap a scoreless tie. Kailee Lawson led off the inning with a single to center, and Abby Danis followed with a single of her own but Lawson was caught on the base path for the first out. However, Lizzy Kennedy followed with the third straight single of the stanza to dive in Dannis with the RBI-single to provide the only run of the game.

But thankfully for the home team, that would be all the support Tanner would need as she only allowed two opposing runners on base at the same time once in cruising to the win.

Her teammates helped her out twice with double plays, once in the fourth with two on and one out and again in the seventh after Weber led of the final frame with a single.

Tanner also had a team-high two hits for ECHS in the win.