By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — George County captured its second state championship in three seasons here at the University of Southern Mississippi Softball Complex on Saturday.

And a 10-run offensive effort was a main reason why, as a pair of versatile, multi-sport standouts were the key catalysts in that winning attack in the 10-7 decision over perennial state power Neshoba Central.

The junior infield duo of Blakely Slay and Jordyn Bradley combined for half of the eight hits for the Lady Rebels and for a quartet of runs batted in as well.

Bradley cracked a pair of RBI-triples for GCHS and Slay added two RBI-singles. The dynamic duo combined for eight hits and seven RBIs overall in the three game series vs. the Lady Rockets.

“Blakely Slay has been phenomenal at the plate all year, but especially since the South State series,” first-year GCHS head coach Anna Grace Cooley said. “In the three state final games, she had five hits and five RBIs. Jordyn has an amazing ability to be able to flush things better than most. She could be having the worst game of her career, but she’ll find some way to make a difference in the game no matter how. I’ve been waiting for her to have her break out game, and what better game than game three of the state championship.”

In Saturday’s season and series finale, Bradley came t0 the plate second in the bottom of the first frame after Neshoba Central took a quick 1-0 lead. All she did was slap a triple to the gap in center that scored a run to provide a fast retort to the Lady Rockets and tie the game up at 1-1.

She also put a wrap on a decisive three-run, two out rally for GCHS in the fifth frame that stretched a 7-6 lead into a more comfortable 10-6 advantage with her second RBI-triple of the affair.

In between those two hits, meanwhile, Slay’s run-scoring single that followed Bradley’s first hit gave GCHS its first lead of the game at 2-1. Then, in the bottom of the fourth frame, she delivered her second run-scoring single that erased a 6-5 Lady Rocket lead and knotted things up at 6-6. Her teammate Kyleigh Howell’s RBI-single plated Slay to put the eventual state champs up 7-6 and set the stage for the climactic fifth inning eruption.

Slay, whom Cooley said was recently adorned with the nickname “Big Play Slay”, had seven hits, including a double and triple, with seven RBIS in the last five games of the state playoffs for the Lady Rebels.

She was named the “Most Valuable Player” of the Class 6A state championship series.

Bradley finished the five game span of the Class 6A South State championship series and the state championship series with five hits, including the pair of RBI-triples. She also had a game-high two hits in a 1-0 win over Hancock in the series-clinching game two of the South State series against Region 4-6A foe Hancock.

Bradley and Slay were also teammates on the Lady Rebel volleyball squad this season that won 24 games and made it to the Class 6A South State finals as well.

“I’ll also add,” Cooley concluded. “These two ladies are some of the most outstanding people I’ve ever met. They are the most respectful, humble kids I’ve ever had the chance to coach. That’s a testament to their parents and the people who have helpe guide them along the way. I’m very blessed to be able to coach not only these two, but the entire team. They make me so proud.”