On the final day of high school softball season in the state of Mississippi, two championships will be at stake.
The Mississippi High School Activities Association will crown the last two champions on Saturday in a pair of deciding Game 3 series.
Game 3 of the Class 6A finals between Neshoba Central and George County takes place at 10 a.m. Central time. Then at 12:15 p.m., Game 3 of the 1A finals is set involving Myrtle and Stringer. Both games take place at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.
George County (31-3) took the opening game of its series on Tuesday, winning 4-1 as Paisley Pipkins had two hits for the Lady Rebels, including a sixth-inning solo home run.
A day later, Neshoba Central (24-10) evened the series by rallying from 6-3 down entering the sixth inning to eventually pull off a 7-6 win. Xiomara Fireplace went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs, including a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh which broke a 6-all score. Miley Thomas went 3-for-4 with an RBI and was also the winning pitcher in relief.
In the opening game of the Class 1A final, Myrtle (23-7) held off Stringer, 4-3. Mary Ella Mayer, an eighth-grader, had a pair of RBI doubles to lead the Hawks.
But on Friday, Stringer forced a Game 3 by prevailing, 8-5. The key hit was a second-inning grand slam from Jaycee Holifield, which gave the Red Devils (25-4-1) a 5-0 lead. Winning pitcher Madilyn Graham struck out eight and also went 2-for-3.
Three championships were decided on Friday. In the winner-take-all Game 3 in Class 3A, Enterprise-Clarke edged Booneville, 1-0, as Marley Dearman allowed two hits and struck out 10 to get the shutout. Sloane Perry hit a first-inning triple and then scored on a wild pitch for the game’s lone run, and Perry ended up going 2-for-3.
Itawamba Agricultural claimed the 4A title with a two-game sweep against Purvis, winning Game 2, 9-6. Winning pitcher Layla Owens pitched into the sixth inning and also went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Skylar Partlow and Abbie Robertson each drove in two runs.
In Class 2A, East Union won the title with a two-game sweep against Pisgah, easily winning Game 2, 12-1. Lily Kate Johnson hit two homers in the victory, a three-run shot in the second and a two-run blast in the fourth. Lilli Cochran was the winning pitcher, allowing one unearned run over five innings, striking out two.
On Saturday, two more teams will end its softball season victorious in Hattiesburg.
Here’s everything you need to know about live streaming the final day of the championship softball series in Mississippi:
How to watch the MHSAA softball championship series
•. 6A Finals Game 3: Watch on the NFHS Network.
•. 1A Finals Game 3: Watch on the NFHS Network.
Both games Saturday will air live on the NFHS Network. You can subscribe to the NFHS Network on a monthly basis or an annual subscription.
MHSAA softball start times
•. 6A Finals Game 3 Date: Saturday, May 17
•. 6A Finals Game 3 Time: 10 a.m. CT/8 a.m. PT
•. 1A Finals Game 3 Date: Saturday, May 17
•. 1A Finals Game 3 Time: 12:15 p.m. CT/10:15 a.m. PT
The first pitch for Game 3 of the 6A final between Neshoba Central and George County will be at 10 a.m. CT. The first pitch for Game 3 of the 1A finals between Myrtle and Stringer will be at 12:15 p.m. CT on Saturday. Both title games will be at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.