HATTIESBURG – This Kossuth team has always found a way to dig out of holes. It did so again on Friday morning, and the result was a historic breakthrough.
The Aggies scored 11 unanswered runs for the second straight day and beat West Marion 11-1 in five innings in Game 3 of the MHSAA Class 3A state championship series at Southern Miss. The win secures Kossuth’s first ever softball title.
“This doesn’t compare to anything else,” pitcher Chloe Clement said. “This is great. We’ve worked so hard for this.”
Clement went the distance, allowing one run on three hits. As a hitter, she drove in three runs on a team-high four hits. Her efforts throughout the series earned her MVP honors.
West Marion (26-11) tacked on a run in the top of the first. The Aggies then loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half. Carsyn Rinehart worked a full count and drew a game-tying walk, which was the first of four Kossuth runs in the inning.
Kossuth (26-7) trailed at some point in every game this series. It was also shut out in Game 1 of the North half final and state championship before coming back to win both.
“They’ve just got grit,” Kossuth coach Brandon Bobo said. “You put them in a corner, and I’ll take this bunch to fight their way out any time.”
Clement went on to retire 14 of her last 15 batters after giving up the run in the first. As she cruised, the Aggies added a run in the second. Then in the fourth, Clement, Madeline Rhodes and Rinehart hit three straight RBI singles to make it 8-1.
In the fifth, Caliann Mitchell drove in a run on a single. Clement added two more with one of her own. That put the Aggies up 10, triggering the mercy rule and bringing a trophy to Kossuth.
“It means so much. Our coaches are so good for us. We love our coaches, and this team will never compare to anybody else ever,” Clement said. “They have such a good thing, and we all have each other’s back, on and off the field.”
Kossuth had reached five of the last six North finals before making and winning the state championship this season.
Extra Bases
Big Inning: Hailee Smith followed up Rinehart’s walk with a two-run single. Madeline Mitchell then hit a one-run single to make it 4-1 in the bottom of the first.
Big Stat: After losing Game 1 3-0. Kossuth outscored West Marion 22-2 in Games 2 and 3. Both games ended via mercy rule.
Coach Speak: “I couldn’t be more proud of this bunch. They fought their butts off all playoffs, and we rolled with Chloe, and she took us to the state championship.” – Bobo