By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PERKINSTON — The fourth time wasn’t the charm for Hancock against George County.

The Lady Rebels captured the Class 6A South State championship by sweeping the Lady Hawks in two straight one-run decisions here at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, wrapping the exciting series up with a 1-0 win Saturday afternoon.

The win pushes first-year GCHS head coach Anna Grace Cooley’s squad to an impressive 30-2 overall on the season, and the Lady Rebels move on to play for the Class 6A South State championship next week in Hattiesburg.

It marked the fourth straight loss by Hancock to its Region 4-6A rival this year, and the Lady Hawks finish the season at 20-5 overall and will come up short of a repeat trip to the state title round after being swept by South Panola last season.

“Another hard fought gritty win against a very good Hancock team,” Cooley said. Offensively we took some good swings and made solid contact but just couldn’t get anything pieced together until we finally did. They did what this team does best which is find a way and put pressure on the opposing team’s defense.”

Errors played a big role in game one when Hancock committed four and fell 3-2 in the process. Yet another Lady Hawk fielding miscue contributed to the game two loss as well, as the only run of the game scored on a ground ball by George County batter Blakely Slay that HHS kicked around allowing Rebel base runner Aryana Dixon to come home on the play in the top of the fourth.

And that would be all George County starting pitcher Addison Davis would need as she hurled a complete game four-hit shutout to record the win.

Davis also got a save in the game one win.

“Addison Davis stayed very calm and composed on the mound all game and her defense behind her handled business,” Cooley added. “I said two days ago that it was going to take resilience and a team effort to get where we want to be and we did just that. I am extremely proud of my girls and the way they fight for one another. We’re excited to have this opportunity to get the job done next week!”

Jordyn Bradley had two hits to lead GCHS offensively. Hadleigh Tatum collected a double.

Hancock senior standout Teegan DeWitt, the reigning SouthMis6 Sports “Softball Player of the Year”, deserved a better fate in the series. After taking the loss in game one allowing just three hits, she also suffered the tough-luck loss in game two going the distance again and giving up five hits and the one unearned run.

DeWitt also had two hits, including a triple, and Cambria Necaise recorded a double for Hancock as each wrapped up their playing careers with the Lady Hawks.