By Tara Baucom

Item Correspondent

Pearl River Central lost the 5A state title to Neshoba Central in the second of a best of three series held Friday at the 22nd annual Mississippi High School Activities Association state championship.

 

The Lady Devils started the game stronger than the previous game held Thursday, holding off the Lady Rockets until the top of the second inning when Huesindle Williams hit a home run over the fence. Pearl River Central came back with their own home run from Shelby Archer in the bottom of the second, tying the game at 1-1.

 

The top of the fourth inning was when Neshoba increased that lead. With a runner on first, Neshoba’s pitcher Aspen Wesley stepped to the plate and slammed a home run out of the park, bringing the score to 3-1, Neshoba.

 

In the top of the fifth, Neshoba Central gained a commanding lead the team maintained over Pearl River Central for the remainder of the game. With Tenly Grisham hitting a double, Victoria Henderson followed with a double of her own to left field bringing Grisham in to homeplate, scoring the fourth run for Neshoba. Wesley returned to the plate to hit a line drive to left field and bring in the fifth run for Neshoba. The Lady Devils earned the third out of the inning after putting in Jayden Davis as a replacement pitcher for Jade Latham, moving the game to the bottom of the fifth, with the Lady Devils at bat.

 

With a strikeout proceeding her, Madison Glidewell stepped up to the plate, hitting a single. Brienne Penton followed with a triple, which brought the Lady Devils a possible step closer to turning the game around. Davis tried to steal first after Madalyn Thompson, catcher, dropped the ball but was called out, which wrapped up the fifth inning.

 

The sixth inning, the Lady Devils defense kept the Lady Rockets from getting any more runs.

 

In the final inning Neshoba came back to the top of the line up after Alexandra Bowen hit an infield single that got her out. Grisham hit the ball toward second base, but the Lady Devils were unable to capitalize on a potential double play at first, leaving Grisham in at first. Grisham stole second and third once Rivers Gray stepped up to bat before getting the chance to take a hit to left field and allow Grisham to score run number six.

 

With the score stacked against them in the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Devils ended their season with a three up, three down situation at bat. Neshoba wonthe game, 6-2.