NATCHEZ — The Cathedral School softball team had a bumpy ride Saturday on its way to closing out Sebastopol in the third round of the MHSAA playoffs.

But when Ginny Daggett retired the side in order in the top of the seventh inning of the third game of the series, the Green Wave knew that their 4-2 victory was something special.

“This is the first time for Cathedral fast pitch (to make it to the South State Championship),” Cathedral head coach Gary Blackwell said. “The girls are really excited, and they knew (Game 3) meant a lot. We’re kind of in unchartered waters now.”

Blackwell said the Green Wave came out flat in Game 2 of the series Friday afternoon, but he knew that they could regroup before Game 3.

“They knew what it took to get to this point, and they knew we would have to play up to our level,” Blackwell said.

Cathedral (19-5-1) will hit the road Thursday to face Nanih Waiya in Game 1 of the South State Championship series. That game will start at 5 p.m.

Game 2 will be played at Cathedral 3 p.m. Saturday with Game 3 to follow if necessary.

Cathedral baseball advances to South State

The Cathedral School baseball team used a shutout pitching performance by senior Caleb Upton and some timely hits from surprise contributor Collin Hammons to make its way into the South State Championship Saturday.

After sitting out for much of the season, Hammons returned to action against Pelahatchie High School in the third round of the MHSAA Class 1A South State playoffs. Hammons was hitless in Game 1 Friday, but he went 2-for-3 in Game 2 Saturday with an RBI double.

“He had a good two weeks of practice, and he had a really good week this week,” Cathedral coach Craig Beesley said. “We’re trying to get him back in slowly, and he had a really good day at the plate.”

Hammons said he feels he is starting to get his game back on track just in time for the biggest games of the year.

“I was a little rusty in the field, but not at the plate,” he said. “(Friday), I was for sure rusty, but I felt more loose (Saturday). We played really well together as a team, and that’s all that counts.”

The Green Wave baseball team (16-7) will face the winner of Nanih Waiya and Stringer for the South State Championship starting Thursday.

Centreville baseball heads to State Championship

The Centreville Academy baseball team will look to make it back-to-back state titles this week when the Tigers face Marshall Academy.

Tigers’ head coach Jason Horne said he has a decent scouting report on Marshall Academy, and he knows Centreville will have its hands full.

“They have a good pitching staff. They have some great hitters and have a lot of team speed,” Horne said.

Centreville (25-5) will host Marshall Tuesday before making the more than 300-mile trek up to Holly Springs to Friday.

Horne said the Tigers will leave Thursday morning for Friday’s game.

“We’re going to travel up to Oxford and stay Thursday night,” he said.

Horne said he plans to have a walk-through at Oxford High School before heading to Marshall Academy for the 5 p.m. game.

“We will go and get a good night rest (Thursday) and be ready for Friday,” Horne said.