JACKSON – Losing 9-4 to Forest Hill Tuesday meant the Natchez Lady Bulldogs would have to beat the Lady Rebels by six runs or more Thursday to take the district championship.

With only three outs left and only up by one point heading into the seventh and final inning, Natchez needed five runs and a miracle.

Luckily for Natchez, Miracle Calcote wears blue and gold.

Calcote drove in two runs to start the five-run rally that made the Natchez Lady Bulldogs the Division 6-5A District Champions.

&uot;We needed to beat them by six, and we beat them by six,&uot; Natchez head coach Sue Johnson said. &uot;I knew we could do it. I’m so proud of these girls I can hardly tell you.&uot;

Natchez (10-5, 4-1) and Forest Hill (8-5, 4-1) traded runs for the first three innings before the Lady Rebels 5-3 lead in the fifth inning.

&uot;It looked like they didn’t want it,&uot; Johnson said. &uot;They had their backs up against the wall.

&uot;Then they came out of nowhere and started hitting that ball,&uot; she said.

Natchez earned three runs in the sixth to Forest Hill’s one, making the score 7-6 heading into the top of the seventh inning.

Calcote’s hit came after a walk and a Mable Green single. The two RBI gave Natchez a 9-6 edge.

However, the next two batters, Deanna Butts and Chrystal Sylvester, were both thrown out, leaving Natchez three runs short and only one remaining out.

It proved to be enough. Kelly Fuller and Dalisa Lewis each got on base with a hit, loading the bases for Karmethia Mazique.

Mazique drove the ball deep into the outfield, where the Forest Hill defense committed its most costly error of the season. Calcote, Fuller and Lewis all made it home, giving Natchez the necessary six-run lead.

Mazique was caught at home plate for the third out.

&uot;Mazique’s a little bitty thing, but she’s got a big ol’ heart,&uot; Johnson said.

Forest Hill managed to get a runner on first in the bottom of the seventh, but Fuller caught a pop-up for the last out of the game.

&uot;It was very emotional at the end of the game,&uot; assistant coach Bonita Hamilton said.

Lewis pitched the entire game for the Lady Bulldogs and earned the win.

Natchez hosts a four-team tournament Saturday, squaring off against Wilkinson County first at 9 a.m.

&uot;And we’re going to win that, too,&uot; Johnson said.