The Kosciusko Lady Whippets played to the brink of a Class 4A State Championship Series berth against West Lauderdale, but were unable to overcome the Lady Knights in extra innings on Saturday and fell 7-6 in nine innings to lose the best-of-three series two games to one.
The Lady Whippets had previously defeated the Lady Knights on Friday in 10 innings 5-3, but lost game two at home on Saturday 6-3, forcing game three and the aforementioned extra-inning affair. The Lady Whippets finished 24-8 on the year. Previously, the Lady Whippets swept Houston in two games by scores of 10-6 and 11-1 last Tuesday and Wednesday night to reach the 4A North State Championship series against West Lauderdale.
“These kids played so hard,” said Lady Whippet head coach Tony Terry. “They left it all out on the field and that is all you can ask for as a coach. We have an extremely young group, so I expect us to be very competitive next year.”
In last Tuesday night’s win over Houston, Katie Lawrence got the start and pitched eight innings, allowing 10 hits and six runs while striking out five. The offensive leaders for the Lady Whippets were Abigail Myers with a double, triple and two runs scored; Josie Meggs with a single and a double; Lawrence with two singles; Ashley Trehern with a double and one run scored; Adyson Mann with a single and one run scored; Madeline McCown with four runs scored and Gabbie Kelley with two runs scored.
In game two on Wednesday night against Houston Katie Mitchell got the start and pitched well for the home crowd. In six innings she gave up five hits and one run while striking out five Lady Hilltoppers.
The offensive leaders for the Lady Whippets were Trehern with a triple and two runs scored; Meggs with two singles and one run scored; Mann with a single and one run scored; Myers with a double, single and two runs scored; Mitchell with a double; Bre Barrentine with a double, single and one run scored; Abi Burns with a single; McCown with one run scored; Melissa Gowan with two runs scored and Kelley with one run scored.
In game one of the 4A North State Championship series at West Lauderdale, Lawrence got the start and pitched eight innings of the 10-inning contest that the Lady Whippets won 5-3.
Lawrence allowed six hits and three runs while striking out four Lady Knights. Mitchell pitched the final two innings and allowed no hits or runs while striking out one to pick up the win. The offensive leaders for the Lady Whippets were Meggs with two singles and one run scored; Mann with two singles and one run scored; Myers with a single, double and one run scored; Lawrence with two singles; Burns with a single; Trehern with one run scored and Kelley with one run scored.
In game two of the best-of-three series on Saturday in Kosciusko, Mitchell got the start and pitched seven innings, allowing nine hits and six runs while striking out three Lady Knights in the Lady Whippets’ 6-3 loss. The offensive leaders for the Lady Whippets were Mann with a single, Maddy Gilmore with a single, AC Henderson with a single and one run scored, McCown with a single and Trehern with two runs scored.
In game three on Saturday Lawrence got the start and went the distance in the Kosciusko season-ending nine-inning loss to West Lauderdale, allowing nine hits and seven runs while striking out four. The offensive leaders for the Lady Whippets were Trehern with a double and a triple, Meggs with a single and one run scored, Mann with a single and one run scored, Gilmore with a single, Myers with a single and one run scored, Mitchell with a single, Lawrence with two singles, McCown with a triple, Henderson with one run scored and Gowan with one run scored.
“I would like to thank all the fans who came out and supported us because the huge vocal crowds really made for a special environment,” concluded Terry.
The offensive leaders for the Lady Whippets were Trehern with two doubles and two runs scored; Meggs with two singles and three runs scored; Mitchell with a single; Maddy Gilmore with a triple, single and three runs scored; Adyson Mann with two singles; AC Henderson with a single and one run scored; Madeline McCown with a single; Gowan with two runs scored and Bre Barrentine with one run scored.
“We played really good ball during the first round,” said Lady Whippet head coach Tony Terry. “We were solid in all three phases. We hit well, pitched well and defended well.”
The sweep of Tishomingo pushed the Lady Whippets overall record to 21-6 on the year.
