HUNTER COOKSTON
Writer
There’s nothing like a rivalry game for the District Championship, and that was exactly the case last Tuesday as Whitwell and South Pittsburg went head-to-head. South Pittsburg celebrated their Senior Night before the game, after their May 2 matchup against Huntland was rained out. In the regular season, the Lady Pirates edged out Whitwell in a close contest — and this time was no different, as South Pittsburg came away with a 6-5 win.
The Lady Tigers got things started in the first inning when Jacie Willis led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Tennessee Tech commit Ella Grace Harvey followed with a single up the middle to bring in Willis. In the fourth, Kasie Britton doubled to drive in Harvey. The following inning, freshman Ella Layne executed a sacrifice bunt to third base, allowing Kendal Holtcamp to score.
In the sixth, Chelsea Mayfield singled to bring in a run for the Lady Pirates. An error allowed another run to score, and Jaydra Gentry tied the game with a single.
Britton put the Lady Tigers back in front in the seventh with an RBI single. But Kynleigh Rice came through in the clutch for South Pittsburg, hitting a double down the line to tie it up. Harvey gave the Lady Pirates a temporary lead in the tenth with another RBI single, but South Pittsburg answered again in the bottom half with a hit from Kaylee Kilgore. Kilgore came back up in the twelfth inning and delivered the walk-off hit to drive in the winning run, securing the District Championship.
Kilgore started in the circle for the Lady Pirates, allowing nine hits and five runs (three earned), while striking out 22 and walking four. Willis pitched for Whitwell, giving up seven hits and six runs (three earned), with 13 strikeouts and four walks.
Harvey and Britton each had two RBIs in the game, and Harvey also notched three hits. Kilgore, Gentry, and Mayfield had two hits apiece.
Both teams will advance to regionals. With a win in the first round, each team will clinch a spot in the Sub-State round. Time and location are still to be determined.
