Columbus High School slow-pitch softball player Frankela McCloud has watched her program grow before her very eyes.
“We have had a really good season,” McCloud said. “Not making the playoffs was a disappointment last season. We have been wanting to make up for that this year.
“Putting out Clinton has made things even more awesome.”
Columbus swept Clinton 9-1 and 12-1 in an opening-round best-of-three series to start the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A/6A playoffs Tuesday night at Falcon Field.
With the wins, Columbus (21-7) advances to host Neshoba Central in the second round Saturday. A game time is expected to be set for that best-of-three series today.
“Our focus this year was that making the playoffs was not just good enough,” Columbus third-year coach Eric Thornton said. “We wanted to go farther than the first round. We are pleased to get these two wins, but we really want to do much more than that.”
Columbus and Clinton have formed quite the postseason rivalry. In 2012, Columbus beat Clinton in the second round on the way to the school’s first-ever appearance in the North State championship series. A year later, Clinton put Columbus out in the second round with a heart-breaking play at the plate being the final out in a season-ending 2-1 loss.
“We have come a long way from when Clinton knocked us out,” McCloud said. “We are working better as a team. The attitude of the team is better. It’s good to a senior and to be winning stuff. All it took was teamwork. Everybody is now all in it together.
“We are doing whatever it takes to be successful.”
Doing what it took Tuesday night involved a ferocious offensive attack.
In the opener, Columbus pounded out 15 hits with a five-run fourth inning being the big at-bat. In the second game, Columbus collected 12 hits and delivered the knockout blow with a seven-run first inning.
“Everybody is excited about winning these games here,” Columbus senior Shaquera Wilson said. “As a seniors, we have tried to lead and to show the other players what to do. We have kept our heads up and made less errors this season. At the plate, we tried to see the ball and take off as soon as the ball is hit. Since February, we have been planning to do this. We really wanted this to be a great year.”
Columbus finished undefeated inside Region 2 play. The Lady Falcons saw some young players grow up during the stretch run.
“We had a pretty good start to the season,” Thornton said. “Kind of worried coming into the playoffs because we had lost our last two games, to Houston and then on a walk-off at New Hope. The effort and attitude has been great throughout the season. Some of the young players have really stepped up. The juniors and seniors have carried the load. The underclassmen have followed the lead.
“I think we have a lot of leadership going forward too, because we have had some eighth- and ninth-graders get a lot of playing time this year. The biggest thing has been outfield play. Our outfielders have come a long way in the past season. That is easily our biggest improvement.”
Wilson sparked the game one victory with three hits and four RBIs from the leadoff position. Shemaiah Caine and Kam Lang also each added three hits. Aniya Saddler had two hits.
In the second game, Berniya Hardin had two hits and four RBIs. Her bases-loaded triple capped the seven-run first inning. Wilson again had a pair of doubles from the leadoff spot. Kiara Conner also had two hits for the Lady Falcons.
“This team has had a lot of fun this year,” McCloud said. “In the past, we would get frustrated if somebody made an error. Now, we are there lifting each other up. I think the confidence level is different now. We battle and keep believing the whole game. I think that is why we have won as often as we have.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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