Hallie Burns pitches no-hitter to propel Booneville to MHSAA 3A State Softball Championship win over Enterprise-Clarke

HATTIESBURG — Kids grow up dreaming of throwing a no-hitter or slamming a home run in a state championship game.

On a hot May afternoon at the Southern Miss Softball Complex Friday afternoon, Booneville’s Hallie Burns did both.

The junior Ole Miss commit held Enterprise Clarke hitless for seven innings and homered in the first inning to lift Booneville to the MHSAA Class 3A Softball Championship with an 8-0 win over the Bulldogs.

It was the second state championship in two years and the second state title in program history.

“At the beginning of the season, we were 0-4, so we knew people were going to be out to get us,” Burns said. “We knew we were going to have to work hard, and we got it done.”

Important to note about those first four games — Burns and several other Blue Devils were busy winning a girls’ state basketball championship in Jackson.

Once they got back, the Blue Devils went 27-5 over their final 32 games.

“It’s great, did not know that, but great,” Burns said when asked about her no-hitter. “I usually just focus on one batter at a time.”

It was close to a perfect game — the Bulldogs put two runners on base via the walk and one hitter reached base via error in the seventh.

But Burns worked around them all. She pitched all 14 innings of the series, striking out 16 batters and allowing just three hits and four walks. She also went 6-for-7 at the plate with three RBIs.

“As I said the other night, she’s a great player but an even better person,” Booneville coach Jessica Taylor said. “It’s great to see good things happen to good people.”

There were several other heroes for Booneville Friday. Olivia Garrett had a hit, drew two walks and scored twice. Ikea Eckford singled and drove in a run. Jalia Walden brought home another run with a single.

(All photos by Austin Frayser)

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