Choctaw Central’s Leia Phillips stretches to make a catch at second in an attempt to get the force out against Raleigh. The Raleigh baserunner was ruled safe.

After losing in Game 1, 7-6, to Raleigh on Sunday, Choctaw Central had to win two in order to stave off elimination and make it to the Class 3A state title series.

Mission accomplished, as the Lady Warriors won Game 2, 6-5, and then Game 3, 6-0, to capture the MHSAA Class 3A South State title Monday afternoon.

Following its Game 2 win, Choctaw Central shut out Raleigh with a strong pitching performance by Tia’Rain Saunders and Neera Bell. Saunders went 3 1/3 innings and tallied a hit, a walk and a strikeout, while Bell pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and one walk. She also struck out one.

Saunders and Malaka Morris had home runs for the Lady Warriors, and Morris’ home run was a three-run blast. Kodi Jimmie finished 2-for-3, and Ahnaya Williams also had a hit in Game 3.

In Game 2 earlier Monday, the Lady Warriors trailed 3-0 going into the bottom of the fifth and 5-2 going into the bottom of the sixth, but Choctaw Central scored two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to tie it 5-5 heading into the final frame.

Tyra Billy began the inning with a single, and Saunders walked. After a lineout and a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third, Williams hit a ground ball and reached on an error, allowing Billy to score on a walkoff.

Melanian Jimmie finished 2-for-3, and Jaida Bell doubled, while Leia Phillips tripled for Choctaw Central. Bell also had a hit for the Lady Warriors.

Saunders got the start for Choctaw Central, going 4 1/3 innings and giving up three runs, two earned, on seven hits and two walks while striking out two. Bell went the remaining 2 2/3 innings, giving up two unearned runs on one hit and four walks.

Choctaw Central (16-16) will face South Pontotoc for the Class 3A state title at Southern Miss. The schedule for the series is as follows: Game 1, 4 p.m. Thursday; Game 2, 4 p.m. Friday; Game 3, if necessary, to be announced.

 

NESHOBA CENTRAL 17,

LAFAYETTE 0

 

The Lady Rockets left little doubt they belonged in the Class 5A state title series with a blowout win on the road in Game 2 of the MHSAA Class 5A North State series Monday.

Neshoba Central took a 8-0 lead into the top of the sixth inning before exploding for nine more runs in the frame. The game was called after the bottom of the sixth due to the run rule.

Starting pitcher Aspen Wesley pitched four innings, giving up just one hit and one walk while striking out four. Elleigh Willis pitched the remaining two innings, surrendering three hits and one walk while striking out one.

Shante Beaulieu, Kylee Thompson and Tenly Grasham all doubled for Neshoba Central, and Tori Henderson hit two doubles. Rivers Gray hit a triple and was 3-for-5, while Thompson finished 2-for-5. 

The Lady Rockets (31-2) will face the winner of the Wayne County-North Pike series beginning Thursday at Southern Miss for the Class 5A state title. The schedule for the series is as follows: Game 1, 6:30 p.m. Thursday; Game 2, 6:30 p.m. Friday; Game 3, if necessary, to be announced.