Bogue Chitto beats Hamilton two straight in 1A finals

RIDGELAND – Bogue Chitto coach Scott Leggett was speechless after pausing for a moment to speak as he took off his cap to wipe the sweat from his face as his Lady Cats celebrated their Class 1A Fastpitch Softball State Championship title Saturday afternoon.

On a hot and sunny day, Leggett’s girls rebounded from an offensive marathon Friday night, falling to the Hamilton Lady Lions 15-9 to win twice Saturday at Freedom Ridge Park.

Bogue Chitto won Game Two 8-7 late Saturday morning to avoid a Hamilton sweep and then knocked off the Lady Lions 8-7 in the decisive third game.

“I cannot describe the feeling,” said Leggett. “These girls have accomplished so much throughout this season. I am so proud of them. We are state champions for the third time in five years.

Sophomore pitchers Christian Black and Alana Nettles rose to the occasion in Games Two and Three as the Cats (29-8) claimed their third state crown in fastpitch. In the finale, it was an evenly matched contest between two heavyweights fighting for the big prize.

Hamilton quickly set the tone in the first inning as they grabbed an early 1-0 lead, but BC answered in the bottom of the first inning with a three-run spark to claim a 3-1 lead.

After a defensive see-saw battle, the Lady Lions reclaimed a 6-3 advantage in the top of the fourth inning, but the Lady Cats refused to let that bother them as they continued to work hard and fight their way back into the contest.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, BC managed to put together a string of hits and showed a lot of patience at the plate as they fought to retake the lead at 8-6.

The Lady Cats’ defense stepped up big time in the final two innings of action, only allowing Hamilton one run in the top of the sixth before shutting the door on the Lady Lions’ dreams to claim the champion gold.

Bogue Chitto 8, Hamilton 7 

Alana Nettles was the winning pitcher for BC in Game Three with one strikeout and no walks. Christian Black (2K, 4BB) was the starting pitcher.

Cheyenne Logan suffered the loss for the Lady Lions with seven strikeouts and six walks.

Mattie Avants, Daley Roberts, Terrah Nelson, Christian Black, Zariah Matthews and Mallory Allen were the top hitters at the plate for the Lady Cats with a single apiece.

Taylor Hyland and Raimi Bryan were the offensive leaders for the Lady Lions with a pair of doubles apiece. Alison Atkins ripped a double. Hitting safely were Addie Thompson, Cheyenne Logan, Hailee Jones and Hallie Dobbs.

Bogue Chitto 8, Hamilton 7 

Christian Black tossed the victory for the Lady Cats in Game Two with 10 strikeouts and eight walks.

Logan absorbed the loss for Hamilton with 15 strikeouts and nine walks.

Nettles paced BC at the plate with a triple. Hitting safely were Allen, Roberts and Matthews.

Bryan was the top slugger for the Lady Lions with two singles. Kaley Loague and Logan hit a double each. Jones and Hyland hit a single apiece.

Hamilton 15, Bogue Chitto 9 

The Lady Cats showed a lot of fatigue in Game One of the state champion after winning the South State championship Thursday just a little over 24 hours prior to the state contest.

BC continued to fight hard and showed a lot of heart as they fought through a offensive marathon before running out of gas in the top of the seventh inning.

Addie Thompson pitched the win for the Lady Lions in Game One with one strikeout and one walks.

Nettles suffered the setback for BC with three strikeouts and 11 walks. Black (2K, 5BB) also saw some action.

Avants powered the Lady Cats at the plate with a triple and three singles. Black contributed a double and two singles. Alexis Givens, Allen and Roberts ripped a pair of singles. Nelson had a double and a single. Matthews hit a single.

Thompson sparked Hamilton’s offense with a double and two singles. Logan and Atkins provided two singles each. Taylor Brock and Bryan hit safely.