The Shelby County Lady Wildcats needed only two wins, coming into Saturday&8217;s second round sub-state softball playoffs at McAdory, to clinch the school&8217;s first ever berth in the state tournament.

Enter Kassadie Jones.

The Lady Wildcats&8217; pitcher opened the best of three series with a three-hit, 10 strikeout shutout over the home standing McAdory Yellow Jackets 2-0. Sophomore third baseman Jessica Pennington doubled in Jones in the fourth-inning, which proved to be the only run needed for the Wildcats, while Jones returned the favor with an RBI single in the fifth inning. They each finished with two hits in the game.

Jones (19-5), a senior, followed with another shutout in game two, adding five more strikeouts to just four hits. She also helped her own cause by going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Shelby County sealed the game with five runs in the fifth inning.

&8220;The heat was tough on the team but Jessica hit well all day and Kassadie pitched well too,&8221; said Shelby County head coach Ashley Phillips.

The sweep sends Jones and the Wildcats (22-8) to Lagoon Park in Montgomery for the ir first-ever state tournament, where they will meet Mortimer Jordan on Friday at noon.

&8220;No one looks forward to playing Mortimer Jordan. They are a great team with a great record who is used to winning and being in Montgomery. We have to treat this like it&8217;s any other game,&8221; Phillips said.

Class 5A Bracket

Friday, May 18

Noon

Game 1: Etowah vs. Gulf Shores

Game 2: Bibb Co. vs. Scottsboro

Game 3: St. Paul&8217;s vs. Springville

Game 4: Shelby Co. vs. Mortimer Jordan

7 p.m.

Game 5: Loser G1 vs. Loser G2

Game 6: Loser G3 vs. Loser G4

Game 7: Winner G1 vs. Winner G2

Game 8: Winner G3 vs. Winner G4

Saturday, May 19

9 a.m.

Game 9: Winner G6 vs. Loser G7

Game 10: Winner G5 vs. Loser G8

10:30 a.m.

Game 11: Winner G7 vs. Winner G8

Noon

Game 12: Winner G10 vs. Winner G9

3 p.m.

Game 13: Winner G12 vs. Loser G 11

5:30 p.m.

Game 14: Winner G11 vs. Winner G1