By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — The clock struck 12 here on the playing surface at University of Southern Mississippi Softball Complex Saturday just after George County notched the final out of a 10-7 win over Neshoba Central to take the Class 6A title.

But the fact that it had just turned noon as the Lady Rebels erupted in celebration, and not midnight, could be a big sign of things to come for the young George County squad.

Only one player who stepped foot on the field in the three game series for the Lady Rebels departs via graduation and won’t be joining the reigning state champs when they gather for the first day of school in the fall sporting their new championship rings.

Lady Rebel courtesy runner Dekari McNair is the lone senior on the squad. She made her presence known with a steal of home in a 7-6 loss to the Lady Rockets in game two on Wednesday.

However, every position player, batter and pitcher that saw action for George County and participated in the Class 6A state finals should return as the Lady Rebels begin defense of the state crown next season

“We won it two years ago when I was an assistant when these same girls really,” first-year head coach Anna Grace Cooley said. “We missed out on making it back last year, so this was our number one goal this season was getting back. I knew these girls had it in them. And then obviously once we got back here the goal was even bigger. I’m just so proud of them.”

Junior standout Blakely Slay was named the Most Valuable Player in the championship series. In the season and series finale, she combined with classmate Jordyn Bradley to ignite the GCHS offensive attack that tallied 10 runs in the winning effort as each collected two hits and a pair of RBIs.

“I was never nervous, I never doubted it because I knew we had this,” the diminutive dynamo Slay said. “We have some amazing coaches and I’ve got some amazing teammates. And I’m so happy that I get to do it with this group of girls.”

Slay and Bradley combine with fellow juniors and current starters Addison Davis, Hadleigh Tatum and Aryana Dixon as mainstays that burst upon the scene as freshmen two years ago and helped guide GCHS to its first-ever fast-pitch state championship in 2023.

That quintet should be back in the fold next year along with the current crop of sophomores in starters Peyton Collins, Kyleigh Howell, Alexis O’Neal and Braylee Bishop along with top pinch-runner Lindsay Hayes to bolster what will be a well-established combination next season.

In addition, freshman Paisley Pipkins had her coming out party this season also as a starter and she stepped big up in a 4-1 game one win over Neshoba Central with a solo home run.

Next season, George County will change leagues and move from Region 4-6A a bit north into Region 3-6A to compete with Hattiesburg and West Jones among others.

Despite the change, however, and the timing of the big win on Saturday, the clock certainly hasn’t struck midnight for this group of Lady Rebels just yet.