A little more than an hour after his team dropped a decisive game three in the MHSAA Class 1A South State Championship series, Ethel High School head fast-pitch softball coach Tyler McKinley was still reflecting on just how tough his Lady Tigers played on Monday night.
"We fought and fought and fought," McKinley said. "I am really proud of them for that. They just kept coming back."
Ethel, which dropped a 14-4 decision to homestanding Vardaman on Friday, had to beat the Lady Rams twice at Ethel on Monday in order to advance to the state championships set to be played in Hattiesburg at the University of Southern Mississippi this weekend.
Ethel jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in game one, before Vardaman rallied to take an 8-6 lead. The Lady Tigers rallied to earn a 9-8 win thanks to a game-winning hit by Amiracle Edwards.
The second game of the day, which was also the deciding game of the best-of-three series, saw the teams tied at 3-3 headed into the fifth. But Vardaman stretched the lead out to 8-3 before the Lady Tigers began to rally.
It was 10-5 going into the bottom of the seventh inning when Shelby Schuster led the inning off with a homer. The Lady Tigers proceeded to load the bases, but could only push across one more run before dropping the 10-7 decision.
"I wouldn't say we achieved everything we wanted to (this season), but I think we achieved a lot," McKinley said. "I think we built a foundation that should transfer us to some bigger heights in the future. I hate it (the season) ended like it did, but you win or you lose."
Sidney Rone had three hits in the 9-8 win for Ethel, while Jessica Mitchell and Edwards each had a single, double and three RBIs. Maddie Odom also picked up a pair of hits while Schuster and Kambrie Hodges each had one, with Schuster also picking up a pair of RBIs.
In the final game Schuster had a single, triple and homer, while Haley Wiegel smacked a double and drove in a pair of runs. Rone doubled, while Emily Mitchell singled and Jessica Mitchell had an RBI.
