NATCHEZ — The Cathedral High School baseball team (21-5) hadn’t had such a nail biter all season until they met French Camp Academy in Game Two of the MHSAA South State semifinals Saturday.

French Camp’s Michael Erving was able to get an inside-the-park home run off of relief pitcher Pate Shirley in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game 2-2, and it was freshman Craig Bradley for Cathedral who found himself at the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Bradley said he knew he would decide the game when Zac Flattman went up to bat before him.

“I knew they were going to try to pitch around Flattman because he’s one of our best hitters, so I knew I was going to come on next,” Bradley said.

With Flattman, Andrew Beesley and Thomas Garrity on base, Bradley prepared for the most important at bat of his career to date.

Bradley had stepped to the plate three times prior without a hit.

He seemed a little too anxious to start, as French Camp pitcher Hagan Box made two strikes on him before Bradley really settled in — and he connected.

“I knew it was down as soon as I hit it,” he said. “I couldn’t even think. I was so excited. I was screaming my head off.”

Bradley pumped his right fist in the air as he sprinted to first base and Garrity slid home for the win.

The Green Wave flooded out of the dugout to tackle Bradley as they celebrated a 2-0 sweep of French Camp to move on to the South State championship.

Garrity only had one thing to say about the bottom of the seventh inning.

“Craig (Bradley) is my hero,” he yelled with pride and excitement.

Cathedral head coach Craig Beesley said the determination his players had in such a high-pressured game showed him how special his group of athletes is.

“We haven’t had a close game in a while, I’m glad we didn’t fold under the pressure,” Beesley said. “(Shirley) did a good job on the mound, and (Bradley) came up big for us in the bottom of the seventh.”

Shirley got the win for Cathedral in three innings allowing one hit, one run and five strikeouts.

Garrity was the only Green Wave with multiple hits as he went 2-for-3.

Cathedral will play the winner of Stringer High School and Sacred Heart High School Thursday.

The Stringer/ Sacred Heart game was rained out Friday and Saturday.