BOGUE CHITTO – The Bogue Chitto Lady Cats are two wins away from their fourth state championship in seven years.

The Lady Cats, coached by Scott Leggett, will be in action Thursday at 3 p.m. when they take on the Smithville Lady Seminoles (25-6) at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland.

The Lady Cats (25-6, 3-0) eliminated Sebastopol, Nanih Waiya and Ethel in two games each to advance to the title series.

“It has been a great year,” Leggett said. “The girls have done a fantastic job representing Bogue Chitto and our area.”

Leggett’s squad is now focused on the task at hand as they prepare for the Lady Seminoles.

“I expect to see an excellent, well-coached team,” said Leggett. “Smithville has a lot of tradition in softball. They have a few players that can hit the ball well. Their third baseman is an outstanding player and they also have a pitcher that is pretty good.”

Bogue Chitto’s goal for the series against Smithville is to keep it simple, Leggett said.

“We are just going to focus on one game at a time. Smithville is really not any different from playing all the good teams around here,” he said.

BC’s starting lineup is Zariah Matthews (.524) at centerfield, Cherie Savoie (.365) at leftfield, Terrah Nelson (.413) at shortstop, Codi Leggett (.412) at third base, Christian Black (.342) at pitcher, Reagan Kirkland (.325) at first base, Julianna Frazier (.455) at designated player, Baileigh Jackson (.364) at catcher, Karly Leake (.215) at second base and Stevie Montgomery (.320) at flex-right field.

The Lady Cats’ pinch runners are Kayci Beth Wallace and Alece Nettles.

Key Lady Seminole players are Olivia Roberts (.461), Angel Guyton (.458), Katie Beth Williams (.464), Morgan Barrett (.409), Hailey Hughey (.451), Kaitlyn Scott (.411), Priscilla Keebler (.329), Taylor King (.296) and Callie Williams (.278).

Bogue Chitto defeated Smithville in 2010 for its first fastpitch softball state championship. The Lady Cats captured two state championship after that, beating West Union in 2011 and Hamilton in 2014.