It was the Anna Grace Whitehead show as Kosciusko opened a best-of-three playoff series against Corinth with a 9-0 victory Thursday. Weather permitting, Game 2 will be played in Corinth Friday.
Whitehead pitched a one-hitter and drove in five runs. At one point, she retied 10 straight batters.
Kosciusko jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Campbell Blaine led off with a single, Mary Kimble Price walked and Gracie Williams reached n an error, loading the bases. The first run scored when a blooper by Makynlee 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 half 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.
“We're playing good ball,” said coach Tony Terry.
