SEBASTOPOL — Mackenzie Watts’ two-run single capped off a four-run rally in the top of the fourth inning as the Cathedral Lady Green Wave defeated Sebastopol High School 7-3 Wednesday afternoon for a sweep of the Lady Bobcats in the second round of the MHSAA Class 1A South State Playoffs.

Elizabeth Smith pitched a complete game and held Sebastopol to five hits, all of them singles. She allowed three runs, just one earned, struck out six and walked two. She also went 2-for-4 with one run batted in.

“It was a hard-fought battle. It went back and forth. Both teams battled hard,” Cathedral head coach Gary Blackwell said. “But we got some key hits when we needed them.”

Cathedral jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Mckenzie Milligan hit a lead-off single, stole second base and scored on an error. Sebastopol countered with two runs in the bottom of the second when Baylee Green scored on an RBI groundout by Whitney Billings and another run came in on a passed ball.

“Elizabeth pitched another good game. She had a rough (second) inning, but she got through it,” Blackwell said.

In the top of the fourth, Sebastopol pitcher Shelby Barrett got the first two batters out before walking Tori Edwards. Emily Rasco came through with a double to bring in Edwards to make it a 2-2 game. After a single by Caroline Kaiser, Milligan singled in Rasco with the go-ahead run and advanced Kaiser to second.

Kaiser went to third and Milligan went to second on a passed ball and Baylee Graning was walked to load the bases. Then Watts singled to bring in Kaiser and Milligan to make it a 6-2 game.

“That really got us back in the game,” Blackwell said of Watts’ key hit. “It was a good effort from everybody. This team has come together.”

Watts went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored and Milligan was 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored.

The Lady Bobcats got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth when Brently Comans reached on an error and later scored on a single by Morgan Leach.

The Lady Green Wave answered with two runs in the top of the seventh. Graning led off the inning with a single, went to second on a passed ball and third on single by Watts. After Watts stole second base, Graning scored on a passed ball that sent Watts to third base. Watts scored on a single by Smith.

“That was big. We knew we had to step it up in the seventh. It helped out,” Blackwell said. “Elizabeth was able to shut them down in the (bottom of) the seventh.”

Billings led off with a single and Makenzie Byrd followed with a single. But Billings was caught stealing at second for the first out. Byrd stole second, but the next batter struck out for the second out. Bethany Myers was then called out because of runner interference.

Next up for Cathedral (10-11) will be the winner of the St. Aloysius/Stringer series in the semifinals. As to what day that series will start is still in the air because the St. Aloysius/Stringer series did not start until Wednesday because of the severe weather earlier in the week.

“We’re supposed to play Friday and Saturday, but I don’t know how it’s going to play out with the weather delays,” Blackwell said.

Franklin County 5, Seminary 4

MEADVILLE — Hayle McKinney went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in and Emilee Wallace pitched four solid innings as the Franklin County Lady Bulldogs held on for a 5-4 win over the Seminary Lady Bulldogs Wednesday afternoon to win its MHSAA Class 3A South State Playoffs second-round series two games to none.

Franklin County scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning before Seminary tied it on a two-run home run by Jesse Smith, who went 2-for-4. The host Lady Bulldogs recaptured the lead with one run in the bottom of the third inning and scored two important runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Wallace went four innings and allowed two runs, both earned, on two hits, four walks and two hit batters with four strikeouts. Emily Smith pitched the fifth inning and gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits and one hit batter.

Harley McKay came in to protect Franklin County’s one-run lead and she did just that, holding Seminary to two hits while striking out four in the final two innings.

Shelby Smith went 3-for-3, Jamecia Starks was 2-for-3 with a triple, and Sierra Bethley was 2-for-3 as Franklin County had 12 total hits to offset three errors.

Franklin County (14-7) will take on the winner of the Choctaw Central/Sumrall series in the semifinals of the Class 3A South State Playoffs. Even though the Choctaw Central/Sumrall series did not begin until Wednesday, the next round will go on as scheduled with the games on Friday and Saturday.