Kosciusko's two-year reign as 4A state softball champion came to an end with two tough losses to West Lauderdale in the North State final, 8-7 in nine innings and 1-0.
“Not the outcome we wanted, but I couldn't have asked for a better group of fighters,” said coach Tony Terry. “I ask them to compete every game until the final pitch and they always do.”
Defense has been a strength for Kosciusko throughout the season, but untimely errors hurt the Whippets in both games.
In the first game, Kosciusko battled back from a 7-0 deficit to tie the game with five runs in the fifth and two in the seventh, forcing extra innings. “Like we always do, we kept battling back,” Terry said. West Lauderdale's first two runs in the first inning were unearned. “We uncharacteristically made two errors. One of the errors on a bunt scored two runs.” Terry said.
After holding West Lauderdale scoreless in the top of the eighth, Kosciusko loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth, but was unable to score and West Lauderdale pushed across the winning run in the ninth.
“We legitimately should have won that ball game. We had every opportunity to win the game.”
Anna Grace Whitehead had a single and double with two RBIs for the Lady Whippets.
The second game was a pitchers' duel between Whitehead and Mabry Eason. The Lady Knights scored an unearned run in the fifth, coming in on a squeeze bunt.
Kosciusko threatened in the seventh. With one out, Graycee Rosamond reached on an error and Gracie Kate Burrell singled. Breelyn Cain relieved Eason and closed the door on a grounder by Laura Wood and a fly to right by Kelly Goss.
Whitehead allowed only one hit. “It's tough throwing a one-hitter and losing,” Terry said.
The losses snapped two Kosciusko winning streaks. The Lady Whippets entered the series with 11 straight victories and had won eight in a row against West Lauderdale — two in the 2021 North State final after losing the series opener, two in the regular season and two in the North State last year and this season's two regular season games. Every game has been close.
“We had won eight in a row, which is very hard to do against a good team,” Terry said. “We're totally equal teams.”
Kosciuskso and West Lauderdale will be in different regions next year, West Lauderdale remaining in 4-4A and Kosciusko moving to 3-4A. But nobody will be surprised if they end up facing each other in the playoffs for a fourth consecutive years.
There were five seniors on the Kosciusko roster — second baseman Gracie Williams, center fielder Campbell Blaine, right fielder Alexandra Wood, Kaitlyn Broyles and Brittlyn Gillum.
“I praise this group of seniors who have left us with so many great memories. They will be truly missed.”
Replacing the three starters won't be easy, but, Terry said, “We have some pieces to work with. We had four new starters this year and they grew up a lot. This year's experience will definitely help them next year.”
