It’s on to the North State final for the eighth consecutive year for Kosciusko softball after a sweep of Corinth.
As was true in the previous round against Pontotoc, there was one easy win and one that was anything but easy. The Lady Whippets defeated Pontotoc 2-1, then 13-1. Against Corinth it was 9-0 and 4-3 in eight innings.
In the second Corinth game, Kosciusko trailed 2-0 through five innings. With two outs in the sixth Gracie Williams singled, Makynlee Dickerson walked and Anna Grace Whitehead drove both in with a double.
In softball, extra innings begin with a runner on second. That was Campbell Blaine for Kosciusko in the eighth. She scored on a single by Mary Kimble Price. Pinch runner Izey William moved to third on a double by Williams and scored on a ground out by Graycee Rosamond.
The runner at second for Corinth in the bottom of the eighth moved to third on a grounder and scored on a wild pitch, but Whitehead retired the three batters she faced on two grounders and a strikeout. She allowed seven hits and one earned run, with eight strikeouts.
“I am very proud of the toughness and resilience of this team,” said Kosciusko coach Tony Terry. “They never give up and keep fighting until the final out.”
It was the Anna Grace Whitehead show in the 9-0 victory. She pitched a one-hitter and drove in five runs. At one point, she retired 10 straight batters.
Kosciusko jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Blaine led off with a single, Price walked and Williams reached on an error, loading the bases. The first run scored when a blooper by Dickerson fell in front of left fielder Kaylea Grace. Whitehead followed with a line drive double into the left field corner that scored three runs.
The inning's final run came on a two out single by Kelly Goss that scored courtesy runner Kelby Burrell
The Lady Whippets added three second inning runs, the first two coming on a Whitehead single.
Maggie Parchman led off the game with a single to left for Corinth. It was not only the Lady Warriors' only hit, it was the only ball Corinth hit out of the infield against Whitehead. She fanned six and the Lady Whippets played errorless ball behind her, including a spectacular play by Dickerson at shortstop. She backhanded a ball in the hole and from her knees threw a strike to Kimble at first to retire Addyson Moore.
After allowing eight runs in the first two innings, five earned, Corinth pitcher Callie Pounders held Kosciusko hitless over the next three innings before the Lady Whippets tacked on a final run in the sixth on a triple by Blaine and a sacrifice fly by Price.
It was another quality win by Kosciusko against a strong opponent. Corinth won Region 1-4A with a 9-1 record and entered the series with a nine-game winning streak, including a sweep of Houston in the previous round.
Kosciusko is 25-6 with 11 straight wins.
