By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — East Central captured its first fast-pitch softball state championship in 16 years this week.

And for her accomplishments in being named the “Most Outstanding Player” in the Class 5A state championship series, Lady Hornet versatile standout junior Abby Danis gets the “Baria Law Firm Game Ball of the Week”.

East Central captured the crown Wednesday afternoon with a 10-6 come-from-behind win over Lafayette in game two of the title tilt, using a big six run rally in the bottom of the fourth frame to turn the momentum and secure a spot in the history books of the ECHS athletic department.

Trailing 5-3 entering their half of the inning, East Central cobbled together four hits, four walks and two Lafayette errors in the decisive stanza to plate the half-dozen runs.

A pair of standouts who have come through in the clutch all season for East Central, senior Breyona Tanner and Danis, again played key roles in the game-winning rally as Tanner’s RBI-double returned the lead to the Lady Hornets at 6-5 and Danis finished off the two game sweep of Lafayette with a towering three-run home run to left field to put ECHS in complete command at 9-6.

“I was very confident at the plate in that at-bat,” Danis said. “I knew I’d hit both of their pitchers well yesterday, so I was very confident going up there.”

That dynamic duo spend time in the infield and also threw every pitch in the circle in both the Class 5A South State finals as well as the two games in the state title tilt. In the finale, Tanner started and worked the first four frames to get the win while Danis relieved her in the fifth and finish up after the Hornets took a 9-5 lead.

“She came in and shut the door,” ECHS head coach Gerald Edmonson of Danis. “(The MVP) couldn’t have happened to a better individual,” said Edmonson. “I know a lot of people say that, and it’s kind of a cliché, but it’s the truth.She’s so meek and mild. She’s so shy, but there isn’t a single soul on this team that wouldn’t do anything for her. She is the nucleus of our team.”

In addition, the championship-winning combo keyed the Lady Hornets’ offense attack accounting for the only two extra base hits on the day as Danis finished with two hits and four RBIs and Tanner chipped in two hits and two RBIs.

In Tuesday’s 10-3 win to open the series, Danis had two hits and picked up the pitching win with a complete game performance in the circle.

“We try to have a good offensive approach at the plate, try to be really confident the whole game,” said Danis. “At first, our bats weren’t very strong, but we started hitting the ball really well. I’m very proud of this team.”

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