House Concurrent Resolution 45

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE GEORGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL LADY REBELS FAST PITCH SOFTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH KASEY MCCANN UPON WINNING THEIR FIRST EVER MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION CLASS 5A FAST PITCH SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, the 2023 George County High School Fast-Pitch Softball Team clinched a well-deserved victory when they defeated the Saltillo High School Fast-Pitch Softball Team to win their first ever Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A Fast-Pitch Softball State Championship; and

WHEREAS, striving to win with unparalleled motivation and ardent determination, the Lady Rebels played their best games of the season during the championship series, as their mental stamina and athletic prowess never wavered from the moment they first walked onto that red, dusty diamond until the last out was made; and

WHEREAS, the championship matchup ended as a thrilling 2-1 victory over Saltillo in Game 2 of the state championship series held at the Southern Miss Softball Complex in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on May 18, 2023, and it forever etched this George County team not only in the trophy case, but also in the history books; and

WHEREAS, the Saltillo Lady Tigers struck first in the top of the second inning, but George County escaped the jam with a 9-6 double play and then promptly answered back in the bottom of the third with a run of their own, as Jordyn Bradley scored on a passed ball following a lead-off triple; and

WHEREAS, the 1-1 score would remain until the bottom of the sixth, when Natalie Jones started a two-out rally with a double all the way to the left field wall, and Saltillo then made the curious decision to walk three-hole hitter Ashton Fairley, which sent Sidnee Beech to the plate for the biggest at-bat of her life; and

WHEREAS, while the fans of both teams watched with bated breath, the junior came through with an opposite field RBI single into right field, sending Jones to the dish for a 2-1 lead; and

WHEREAS, despite Addison Davis' complete dominance through six innings, the Lady Rebels turned to their eighth grade ace Peyton Collins in the top of the seventh inning; and

WHEREAS, with one out and runners on first and second, Beech fired a snap throw over to third base, and later applied the tag in a rundown for the second out of the inning, before firing over to Bradley to apply what the Lady Rebels thought was the final out at second base; and

WHEREAS, with the dogpile already underway, the umpire exclaimed he had called for obstruction at second base, so the game deferred back to a two-strike count with two outs, but the Lady Rebels did not let this call distract from their dreams, so Collins stepped back up to the pitcher's mound and put the finishing touches on George County's state championship game victory with a swinging strikeout, and naturally, another dogpile promptly ensued, and Collins was later named series MVP; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Rebels team statistics were impressive, but the key to this team's consistent success has been the constant selfless atmosphere, the true love they each possess for the game, and the year-round hard work by each and every talented and distinguished player; and

WHEREAS, the George County High School Lady Rebels Fast-Pitch Softball Team is comprised of the following athletes: Ciera Parker, Aryana Dixon, Gracie Magee, Irina Sanford, Blakely Slay, Skylar Wood, Lexi Eubanks, Kelsey McCardle, Hadleigh Tatum, Ashton Fairley, Zoe Blankenship, Jordyn Bradley, Hannah Pitts, Sidnee Beech, Alexis O’neal, Skyler Dixon, Mari Torres, Kyla Fairley, Gabby Cochran, Braylee Bishop, Natalie Jones, Kyleigh Howell, Addison Davis, Carlaysha Boulton, Mary Jo Tatum, Peyton Collins and manager, Carys Cochran; and

WHEREAS, Head Coach Kasey McCann and Assistant Coaches Anna Grace Cooley, Bruce Thornton and Jay Smith have not only superbly coached and inspired the Lady Rebels but also broadened the team's knowledge of the game and refined their skills in execution; and

WHEREAS, in their tireless dedication, the Lady Rebels have developed a winning, cooperative spirit and a high degree of sportsmanship, and their activities and attitudes reflect great credit upon the individual players and their coaches, bringing honor to George County High School; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend the superb accomplishments of Mississippi student-athletes, especially those such as the George County High School Lady Rebels Fast-Pitch Softball Team, whose excellence on the field and in the classroom bring honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the George County High School Lady Rebels Fast-Pitch Softball Team and Head Coach Kasey McCann upon winning their first ever Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A Fast-Pitch Softball State Championship and extend best wishes to the team and coaches for continued success in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Head Coach Kasey McCann and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.