Prep Softball: Lady Hornets thump Lady Bulldogs 10-0 in first game of South State
Vancleave outfielder Braelin Swetman makes an attempt to snag a fly ball vs. East Central Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
PERKINSTON — East Central is one win away from heading back to the Class 5A state softball championship.
The Lady Hornets dispatched longtime arch-rival Vancleave 10-0 in just five frames Thursday in game one of the Class 5A South State championship series here at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. East Central can successfully defend is South State crown with another win in game two at 3 p.m., Saturday at the same venue.
East Central outfielder Lizzy Kennedy makes a throw to second vs. Vancleave Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)East Central batter Abby Danis makes contact with a pitch vs. Vancleave Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)East Central pitcher Breyona Tanner takes aim on home plate vs. Vancleave Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)Vancleave outfielder Jayda Farrell lungs fora line drive vs. East Central Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
Thursday’s win was the third straight this season for ECHS over the Lady Bulldogs as well as fourth consecutive win dating back to last year’s Class 5A South State title tilt match-up. The Lady Hornets have also won seven of the past eight games over Vancleave dating back to the beginning of last year.
The latest decision ended abruptly after five innings when the Lady Hornets exploded for six runs in that last stanza, turning a 4-0 advantage into a 10-0 mercy rule win.
East Central infielder Kailee Lawson hauls in a pop up vs. Vancleave Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)Vancleave outfielder Brianna Webster tracks down a fly ball vs. East Central Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)Vancleave infielder Brenley Hunter reaches out for a throw at second vs. East Central Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)Vancleave pitcher Brooklyn Howard takes aim on home plate vs. East Central Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
Sophie Finch had the key hit in the game-ending rally, registering a two-run triple, while Abbie Huff added a two-run double to the cause.
Huff wielded the big stick at the plate for the Lady Hornets, as she collected game-high totals in hits with three doubles and RBIs with four. Chloe Sheppard and Kailee Lawson each added two hits apiece to the winning effort, and Sheppard had an RBI while Lizzy Kennedy had a run-scoring double as well.
Breyona Tanner picked up the pitching win with a three-hitter and striking out six.
Vancleave infielder Brenley Hunter makes a play on a ground vs. East Central Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)East Central outfielder Lizzy Kennedy tracks down a fly ball vs. Vancleave Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)Vancleave outfielder Braelin Swetman makes an attempt to snag a fly ball vs. East Central Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)Vancleave base runner Brianna Webster slides safely into third vs. East Central Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
Brianna Webster had two hits, including a double, for the Lady Bulldogs while Presleigh Tapp had. double as well.
Brooklyn Howard took the loss for VHS.
East Central, which got swept in the Class 5A state championship series by Corinth, is now 28-6 overall while VHS sits a t15-19.
Vancleave infielder Brenley Hunter stretches out to stop a ground ball vs. East Central Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)East Central infielder Angelina Guiterrez chases down a fly ball vs. Vancleave Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)East Central infielder Angelina Guiterrez chases down a fly ball vs. Vancleave Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
East Central batter Breyona Tanner makes contact at the vs. Vancleave Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
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