By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

LUCEDALE — Between the two programs, the George County softball and baseball teams have won three state titles in the past four years and played for another.

But, the Rebels and Lady Rebels, as of yet, haven’t been able to bring the championship trophy home in the same season so far.

And now, as the GCHS girls begin state finals action this week while the GCHS boys open Class 6A South State play, the two perennial state powers will be counting heavily on a pair of standout senior pitchers to help each in their quest to do just that.

Both Addison Davis in the circle and Bradyn Havard on the hill have each turned in impressive performances all season long for thier respective squads.

On the softball side of things, the Dandy Dozen product Davis has gone 16-4 in 23 appearances this season with a 207 strikeouts, which is a new single season program record.

“Addison has grown tremendously this year, not only physically but mentally in her understanding of the game.” second-year GCHS head coach and former Lady Rebel standout Anna Grace Rigby sid Monday. “She sees it all, she knows when things are clicking and when adjustments need to be made. We talk through everything before and after every game, and her knowledge and maturity continue to stand out. She’s having an incredible season, and it’s a direct result of the work she puts in every single day. Since winning a state championship last year, she has continued to push herself, and now all of that hard work is paying off. There’s no secret behind her success— HARD WORK.”

Davis has also give up less than 70 hits in just over 125 innings of work this year for the defending Class 6A state champs. She also has allowed just 30 hits and worked to a miniscule 1. 30 earned run average in leading GCHS to a solid 28-6 overall mark.

Davis has accounted for all six wins so far in the playoffs for the Lady Rebels.

And in addition, she a major force on offense for GCHS as well as they head to Hattiesburg to face South Panola in the Class 6A state championship series beginning Tuesday afternoon. George County also won the state title in 2023.

Meanwhile, on the baseball diamond, Havard has also turned many heads with his work on the mound this year. He has also established a new single season strike out mark, setting down 125 opposing batters so far as the Rebels get set to host PRC in the Class 6A South State finals at home beginning Tuesday night.

He is 9-2 in 14 outings with just as miniscule 1.32 ERA. Havard has hurled four complete games, including three shutout wins in going the distance. The Rebels sit at 23-9 so far this season.

“Bradyn has worked really hard and led by example all year long,” veteran Rebels head coach Brandon Davis, who led his alma mater to a state title as a player in 1997 as was again as the leader two years ago. “you never have to wonder if he is doing the right thing. he is always working and trying to get better. He suffered an injury in is first start his junior year in his oblique, and he never really got going last season. I’m not surprised how much he has improved, as much work as he has put in combined with his talent.”

Havard has allowed just 38 hits in almost 70 stanzas of work, and allowed just 13 earned runs. Also, he has walked just 33 when compared with his 125 strike outs.

With his stellar work this season, he has placed his name among the myriad of heralded Rebel hurlers over the past 15 years or so as GCHS has played in the state championship round five different times. Names such as Mason Robbins, Logan Robbins and Walker Robbins, along with Justin Steele, Logan Tanner and Trevor McDonald, just to name a few.

After winning the state crown in 2024, George County fell in the title tilt to Saltillo last year. Now Havard and Davis and the rest of the Rebels sit just two wins away for playing for the state championship for the third straight season.