Brookhaven Academy (30-8-1) and Parklane Academy (30-6) have met on the softball field eight times in 2023. Both teams have won four games in the series and the winner of the ninth matchup on Saturday will be crowned MAIS 5A state champions.

The winner-take-all third game of the championship series became necessary after the Pioneers used a 4-run first inning to jump ahead in an eventual 8-3 win at Brookhaven Academy on Thursday in game two.

Leadoff batter Issie Coker of Parklane drew a walk to begin the game and was then replaced on the basepaths by courtesy runner Lay Jackson.

The next PA batter, Anna Sawyer, singled on the first pitch she saw. Then Macy Simmons of Parklane also swung at another first pitch and that ball was played for an error in the outfield that put the Pioneers up 1-0 when Jackson crossed the plate.

The game was put firmly in hand for the Pioneers when the next batter, Halle Bennett, smashed a 3-run home run to the flagpole in dead center field to give Parklane a 4-0 lead.

It was a shockingly quick start to the game as fans in the cars still streamed into the ballpark on the gravel road past the outfield fence at Brookhaven Academy while Parklane was building its lead.

The Pioneers added one run in the fourth, two runs in the fifth and one run in the seventh inning.

All three Brookhaven Academy runs came via solo home runs.

Morgan Chemin and Miriam Wallace hit back-to-back home runs for the Cougars in the bottom of the fourth inning. Annaston Poole added another solo homer to start the bottom of the sixth inning for BA.

Junior pitcher Ann Elise Duncan pitched Brookhaven Academy past Parklane on Wednesday in game one, a 5-1 win for the two-time defending 5A champion Cougars. On Thursday, Duncan struck out four, walked three and gave up eight hits in seven innings.

Parklane pitcher Ashleigh Reed Sharp made a relief appearance in the loss on Wednesday and drew the start in the circle on Thursday. In seven innings she gave up six hits while striking out four and walking one.

The first pitch for the series finale is set for 2 p.m. at Parklane on Saturday.