BOGUE CHITTO — Coach Scott Leggett’s Bogue Chitto Lady ‘Catshope to keep their playoff surge going Saturday in the championshipfinals of the Class 1A slowpitch softball series. They play Ingomarat V.A. Fields, starting at 11 a.m.

Game 2 is scheduled for 1 p.m. If a third game is necessary, itwill be played at 3 p.m.

Ingomar beat Myrtle Thursday night in the best-of-threesemifinals. Myrtle won the opener 12-1, but Ingomar came back towin the second game 5-3 and the finale game 10-5.

Bogue Chitto eliminated defending state champion Union Tuesdaynight on Stan Long Field, winning two straight games after losingthe opener.

Leggett, in his first year at the helm of BC softball fortunes,said he has been pleasantly surprised by his team’s climb to thetop. “I’m a little surprised. Coming in I knew what our girls werecapable of doing. We have some good talent.

“I’m blessed to have this bunch,” said Leggett. “They havereally put forth a good effort this year.”

Four seniors lead the Lady ‘Cats. They are third baseman BrynnaWallace, left-center fielder Candace Braxton, right fielder HaleyRoberts and first baseman Kayla Smith.

“They are a great group of seniors,” said Leggett. They alsoserve as team captains.

Also in BC’s starting lineup are five sophomores and one juniorin shortstop Meleah Brown. Sophomores are catcher Dori Hall,right-centerfeidler Chelsey Miller, pitcher, LaToya Braxton, secondbaseman Devon Welch and left fielder Candace Avants.

Leggett, 29, is a 1993 graduate of Bogue Chitto. He playedbaseball for Mickey Myers at Bogue Chitto. “Coach Myers has been aninspiration to me,” said Leggett.

Working alongside Leggett is his wife, Denise. “My assistantcoach does a great job,” said Leggett. “She has inspired me a lot.The girls love her.”

Candace Braxton, BC’s leading home run hitter with 14, said sheenjoys playing for the Leggetts. “We like playing for Coach Leggettand his wife.”

Asked about her batting strength, Braxton said, ” I just get upthere, relax and hit it as hard as I can. Just like the Nikecommercial, ‘Just Do It.'”

Wallace is batting .355 in the playoffs and has hit 2 homers.She said the Lady ‘Cats play together as a team.

“There’s no tension out there,” said Wallace. “We play welltogether; we support each other.”

Smith agreed. “We gradually grew as a team. We took it game bygame.”

Roberts echoed the opinion of her teammates. “Our team has agood attitude. We are a great defensive team, too.”

At the plate, Miller compiled a .443 batting average during theregular season. She’s batting .649 in the playoffs.

LaToya Braxton is batting .478 in the playoffs and has compileda 7-2 pitching record. Avants is averaging .459 and has 14 RBIs inthe playoffs. Hall is batting .452 and Roberts 438.