By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — Coming into Saturday’s third and deciding game in the Class 6A state championship series against Neshoba Central, it had been almost three years since George County lost back-to-back games.

And the Lady Rebels not only made sure that they extended that streak, but in the process captured the crown as well.

George County broke open a tight 7-6 contest with a three run rally with two outs in the bottom of the fifth frame, taking control of the contest at 10-6 and then held off the Lady Rockets to take the title with a 10-7 decision here at the University of Southern Mississippi Softball Complex.

George County finished the season at an impressive 32-3 under first-year head coach Anna Grace Cooley, while NCHS finished at 24-11. The Lady Rockets were trying to win their 11th state title in the past 15 seasons.

“So proud of this entire team,” Cooley said amidst an on-field celebration. “Never any doubt in my mind that they were going to get the job done. They continue to show up and fight day in and day out and it shows. They deserve every bit of this! The Lord has been so good to me in my first year of head coaching. I’m so thankful for his many blessings on me. We appreciate the support from the entire town of Lucedale and can’t wait to get back to celebrate! Go Lady Rebels!”

Up by one, the decisive frame began with NCHS pitcher Miley Thomas recording two quick outs. But by the time the third out occurred, George County was well on its way to winning its second state title in three seasons after taking the Class 5A state crown in 2023.

George County hasn’t lost two straight games since early in the 2022 season, a span that has now reached 100 games.

Like a pair of heavyweight pugilists, the two teams went toe-to-toe through the first four frames.

Neshoba Central jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, only to see the Lady Rebels respond with three runs in their first at bat an RBI-triple by Jordyn Bradley as well as run-scoring singles from both Blakely Slay and Hadleigh Tatum.

The Lady Rockets tied things back up at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the second, including an RBI-double by Taylor Holley.

George County returned serve when Paisley Pipkins scored on a NCHS error off the bat of Aryana Dixon to make it 4-3.

But the Lady Rockets rebounded with two runs in the top of the third, including an RBI-double by Lacie Morris, to re-take the lead at 5-4.

Not to be out-done, GCHS knotted the contest up at 5-5 when a run scored as Braylee Bishop grounded into another fielding error by NCHS.

Up next, Taelyn Mingo stole home with two outs for the Lady Rockets in the top of the fourth to give the Lady Rockets what would turn out to be their final lead of the game at 6-5 in the top of the fourth.

However, Slay’s RBI-single and made it 6-6 and Kyleigh Howell followed with a run-scoring single of her own to put the Lady Rebels ahead 7-6 entering the fifth frame.

And when Rebel relief pitcher Addison Davis set the Lady Rockets down without a run in the top half of the stanza, it was a harbinger of things to come.

In the bottom of the frame, after the first two GCHS batters were retired, Pipkins began the game-winning rally with a double and Alexis O’Neal followed with a walk. Dixon reached on yet another fielding error by the Lady Rockets that scored both base runners to make it 9-6, and Bradley again slapped an RBI-triple to end the scoring for the Lady Rebels.

“I kept telling them it’s going to be one of those games,” Cooley concluded. “It’s going to be back and forth at some point one of us has to put up a goose egg on defense and we were able to do that first. Once we did that and then put up those runs in the bottom half we just had to grind it out on defense. Addison Davis did a good job of hitting spots and her defense behind her found a way to get it done.”

Davis picked up the win in the circle after relieving starter Peyton Collins in the third. Davis went the rest of the way, allowing just two hits and two runs in almost five frames of solid work.

Both Bradley and Slay each had two hits and two RBIs apiece to lead the Lady Rebels at the plate. Both of Bradley’s knocks were doubles, and O’Neal had a double.

Lady Rocket starter Raleigh Cumberland took the loss.