Catcher Haley Sones, third baseman Brittany Beeson, firstbaseman Brittany Wallace and centerfielder Calleye Douglas have alot of things in common. The senior members of Loyd Star’s Class 2ASouth State Championship fastpitch softball team have been playingtogether for six years.

Loyd Star’s record-setting season has earned the Lady Hornets aberth in this weekend’s MHSAA Class 2A State Championship Seriesagainst North champion Hamilton. They’ll meet Friday at 6 p.m. inthe first game of a best-of-three series at Ridgeland’s FreedomRidge Park. Game 2 will be played Saturday at 10 a.m.

“We are making history this season,” said Douglas. “I enjoyplaying center field. The outfielders have to work together andback each other up.”

Beeson, a Copiah-Lincoln Community College scholarship signee,said she’s looking forward to the title series against Hamilton.”I’m excited. A lot of hard work and practice have gotten us thisfar. We have good coaches, too.”

Wallace is the flex player in Loyd Star’s lineup and usuallydoesn’t bat. Her forte is defense.

“We have a lot of unity and dedication to each other,” answeredWallace when asked about her team’s success. “I like playing firstbase because I get people out.”

Sones, also a Co-Lin softball signee, is nearly 6-feet tall. Shedoesn’t mind getting sweaty and dirty working behind the plate.

“Catcher is my passion,” said Sones. “I’m in on every play. Ilike getting dirty.”

Sones was battling a pesky case of poison ivy Tuesday andreceived a shot from her doctor to combat the ailment. Herpart-time job is working in flower beds and mowing lawns.

She said teamwork has been a key to Loyd Star’s successfulseason. “We don’t play selfish, we play together as a team. We havebeen working six years to make it this far.”

Sones said she enjoys working with Loyd Star pitcher BrookeDelaughter. “Brooke is a great pitcher and she works hard toimprove. She throws the ball hard. Me and the pitcher have to beone.”

Delaughter, a junior right-hander, has compiled a 27-1 recordthis season and an 0.89 ERA. In 8 playoff games, opponents havescored a total of just 4 runs and her ERA has dropped to 0.57.

Loyd Star softball coach Jan Delaughter said her four seniorshave been instrumental in the team’s high success level. “We have avery dedicated group of seniors. They started for me when they werein seventh grade.”

Delaughter’s assistant coach is Janet Taylor.

“I consider it a privilege to play for Coach Delaughter,” saidSones. “We have been through the good times and the bad timetogether.”

Asked about the Hamilton Lady Lions (15-10), Coach Delaughtersaid, “They have a good defensive team. They don’t beat themselveswith errors. They play small ball and they bunt a lot.

“They have three girls who are really, really fast,” she pointedout. “They like to slap bunt.”

Hamilton is under the direction of third-year head coach JasonCobb. His team was runner-up to Eupora in the North finals lastyear. Eupora lost to Clarkdale in the 2008 state title series.

Starting Lineup

Loyd Star’s starting lineup features four seniors, 4 juniors, 1sophomore and 1 eighth grader. Rightfielder Emily Smith leads isthe leadoff batter, followed by Beeson, Delaughter, Sones, secondbaseman Carrie Moak, Douglas, leftfielder Karah Smith, DP NatalieKeene, Wallace and shortstop Sarah Falvey.