Prep Softball: Lady Greyhounds slip past St. Martin and into Class 7A South State finals
Ocean Springs pitcher Emma Franklin reacts after the last out vs. St. Martin Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director
ST. MARTIN — For the second time in three seasons, Ocean Springs is headed to the Class 7A South State softball championship round. The Lady Greyhounds slipped past arch-rival St. Martin in two exciting games, including a second straight 2-1 win Saturday night, to sweep that South State semifinal series. Ocean Springs moves to a solid 26-8 overall with the win, and will now face two-time defending state champion Northwest Rankin later this week with a trip to the Class 7A state title round up for grabs.
Ocean Springs batter K’lee Gum puts the ball in play vs. St. Martin Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)St. Martin outfielder Natalie Shoemaker tracks down a fly ball vs. Ocean Springs Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)St. Martin infielder Mia Boney stretches out to stop a ground ball vs. Ocean Springs Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)Ocean Springs outfielder Taylor Farra settles under a fly ball vs. St. Martin Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
Saturday’s road win, an eight inning affair, followed a decision at home by the same score for OSHS two days prior to open the series. In game two, both teams tallied a single run apiece in the fourth frame to open the scoring, thanks to a run-scoring ground out by Lady Greyhound Zori Terry and an RBI-double from St. Martin’s Maggie Renfrow. The two teams stayed knotted up at 1-1 into the extra inning, when Addison Johnson’s RBI-sacrifice fly plated courtesy runner Mallory Talley with what proved to be the game-winning run. Kerrigan Scott, Dakota Raynore, Terry and Emma Franklin each tallied two hits apiece in the game-winning 10 hit attack for OSHS.
Ocean Springs pitcher Emma Franklin turns loose with a toss vs. St. Martin Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)Ocean Springs infielder K’Lee Gum tracks down a pop up as Lady Greyhound outfielder Zori Terry reacts vs. St. Martin Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)St. Martin pitcher Maggie Renfrow takes aim on home plate vs. Ocean Springs Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)St. Martin outfielder Kinsley Bourdon reaches down to field a hit vs. Ocean Springs Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
Franklin also picked up both pitching wins in the circle for OSHS, going the distance both outings. Renfrow also tossed a complete game for the Lady Yellow Jackets to take the tough-luck loss. In game one, K’Lee Gum’s RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh was the game-winning walk-off hit for Ocean Springs to take the opener. Gum had a pair of hits, including a triple, to pace OSHS at the plate, while Taylor Farra posted a double. Johnson drove in the other OSHS run.
Ocean Springs base runner Mallory Talley reacts after scoring the go-ahead run vs. St. Martin Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)Ocean Springs base runner Kerrigan Scott heads toward second as St. Martin infielder Emma Claire Elmore makes a play for a ground ball Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)Ocean Springs batter Emma Franklin takes a cut at a pitch vs. St. Martin Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)St. Martin outfielder Kinsley Bourdon reaches up to snag a fly ball vs. Ocean Springs Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
Lily Radich had an RBI-single for St. Martin’s only run of the game. Massyah Thomas took the loss for the Lady Yellow Jackets, who finish the season at 16-14-1. Ocean Springs finished 4-0 against St. Martin this season, and has now won eight of the last nine games in the series dating back to the 2023 season.
Ocean Springs base runner Taylor Farra slides into second as St. Martin infielder Emma Claire Elmore reaches for a throw Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)St. Martin infielder Mia Boney makes a play on a ground ball vs. Ocean Springs Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)St. Martin outfielder Natalie Shoemaker settles under a fly ball vs. Ocean Springs Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)St. Martin outfielder Natalie Shoemaker hits the ground to grab the ball vs. Ocean Springs Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)St. Martin base runner Kiyara Lee reacts after reaching third base vs. Ocean Springs Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
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