BOGUE CHITTO — Coach Scott Leggett’s Bogue Chitto Lady ‘Catsare headed for the Class 1A state championship series Saturday atV.A. Fields in Jackson. The Lady ‘Cats earned a trip to thechampionship series by coming from behind to eliminate UnionTuesday night on Stan Long Field. BC lost the opener 5-4 butrebounded to beat the Lady Yellowjackets 10-4 and 8-4 in the SouthState 1A championship series.

Bogue Chitto (27-10) will face the North champion, eitherIngomar or Myrtle, starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. Rain forcedpostponement of the North finals until Thursday.

“Our backs were to the wall after the first game but we settleddown and played Bogue Chitto softball,” said Coach Leggett. “I’m soexcited for my girls and I thank God. We are in the statechampionship!”

Union (27-9), the defending state champion, had eliminated WestLincoln from the South playoffs two straight year. Bogue Chitto hadupset West Lincoln last Saturday in the South semifinals at WestLincoln.

“Union has a great team,” said Leggett. “They are probably thebest we faced, being the defending state champion.”

Union head coach Todd Viverette watched his Lady Jackets commit5 errors in the final two losses.

“Bogue Chitto played better than we did,” said Viverette. “Theydeserve the win and the chance to play for state. We have beeninconsistent all year and it showed tonight. We wish them luck inJackson.”

Bogue Chitto 8, Union 4

A homer by Brynna Wallace and a 4-for-4 performance by ChelseyMiller helped rally the Lady ‘Cats past Union in the third game asthey overcame a 2-0, third-inning deficit with a 3-run rally. Theyplated 4 more runs in the fourth to lead 7-2.

Two hits by Meleah Brown supported the win. Candace Avants,Devon Welch and Kayla Smith also hit safely.

Wallace hit a 2-run shot in the in the fourth. Brown had drivenin the lead run in the third.

Union had taken a 2-0 lead on a 2-run double by Tiffany Thomasin the top of the third.

Latoya Braxton was the pitcher of record in all 3 games. Shestruck out 2 and walked 3 in the finale.

Chasity Yates walked 2 in a losing cause. Union got 2 singlesfrom Loren Kennedy.

Bogue Chitto 10, Union 4

The Lady ‘Cats took a 5-0 lead in the top of the second in Game2. Braxton’s single scored Kelli Howard and tied the game at1-1.

The rally continued as Smith, Welch and Avants provided keyhits. A double by Avants cleared the bases and put BC up 5-1.

Miller finished with 3 hits. Dori Hall singled twice anddoubled. Braxton, Wallace, Brown had 2 hits in the triumph.

Union got 3 singles from Kennedy. Paige Holsen, Amechia Hickmanand Morgan Milling had 2 hits.

Union 5, Bogue Chitto 4

A seventh-inning, RBI single by Kennedy provided the winning runfor Union, scoring Dee Cleveland. Yates struck out 1 and walked 2in the victory.

At the plate, BC was led by Miller who singled twice anddoubled. Braxton homered down the left field line in the fifth,tying the game at 4-4. Wallace and Hall had 2 hits. Brown andRoberts singled.

Union got a triple and a single from Yates. Kennedy singledtwice. Amber Smith, Britt Germany, Milling and Cleveland singled asBC committed 5 errors.