By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — George County notched its 31st prep softball win of the season Tuesday afternoon.

A 32nd win will give the Lady Rebels their second fast-pitch state championship in the history of the program.

George County clipped Neshoba Central 4-1 here Tuesday in game one of the Class 6A state championship series taking place at The University of Southern Mississippi Softball Complex. Another win Wednesday back in the Hub City, or even one in game three later in the week, will wrap up the second state championship in just three seasons for the Lucedale clan.

Paisley Pipkins sealed the win for the Lady Rebels with a solo home run in the top of the sixth stanza. George County sits at an impressive 31-2 overall, while NCHS is 22-10 and now needs two wins to win the state title.

“Coming in, we were just grateful for the opportunity,” GCHS first-year head coach Anna Grace Cooley said. “But I’ve told everybody from the beginning, the belief is here with these girls. They have the tools, they have what it takes to get it done, and they showed that today.”

The two teams swapped runs in the third frame as GCHS took a 1-0 lead on a RBI-single by Blakely Slay before the Lady Rockets responded with a run-scoring single from Miley Thomas.

The Lady Rebels bounced back with a run in the fourth on an RBI-sacrifice fly from Alexis O’Neal and then another run in the fifth on an RBI-single from Addison Davis to make it 3-1.

Pipkin’s long ball capped the win with the final run.

Slay and Pipkins had two hits apiece to led the Lady Rebels offensively.

Peyton Collins picked up the pitching win, going the distance in the circle as she scattered just four singles and struck out three.

“The biggest thing is the way they support each other, the way they celebrate each other’s victories.” Cooly concluded. “I mean, Paisley Pipkins with her first home run of the year, freshman player, and she’s one of the hardest workers on the team. I’m really happy for her right there. And Peyton Collins just dogging it out to the end. I’m so proud of her. The off-speed was working really well for her, and once she gets working with that off-speed pitch, she can blow it by them pretty good. And if they adjust to that, we can adjust back if we need to. She’s been really good for us since her seventh-grade season. I’m really excited for her. Addison Davis will pitch tomorrow; that’s been our routine.”

Game two is set for 1:15 p.m., Wednesday afternoon.