Gibbs wins three close ones for 12th state title
By Steve Williams
Only once in four games did Gibbs High’s softball team trail in this year’s TSSAA Class 3A state tournament. But Coach Carol Mitchell’s Lady Eagles also had three opponents breathing down their necks.
Heritage took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning last Wednesday afternoon, but it didn’t last long.
Gibbs leadoff batter Malyiah Smith produced an infield single, stole second and advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. Shelby Williams’ RBI double over the right fielder’s head easily scored Smith. With only one out, Brianna Baker’s ground out to second brought in Williams to tie the score.
Neither team scored in the second inning, but Lacey Keck’s sizzling single past first base in the third brought courtesy runner Madilynn Rutherford into the game. Williams’ RBI double scored Rutherford to break the tie, but Williams was thrown out trying to stretch her two-bagger into a triple.
Gibbs’ 3-2 lead held up the rest of the way, much like it has all season … and that’s with Lacey Keck in the circle.
“I’ve pitched every game but I think maybe two,” said the senior left-hander, who has signed with Carson-Newman.
“I like that I have the ball every single play and I can control what happens on the mound. I’ll know where the ball is going if I hit it in the right spot.”
Lacey has been Gibbs’ main pitcher for four seasons.
After rain postponed Spring Fling 32’s opening day of softball, Gibbs posted a 12-1 win in 4½ innings with the mercy rule in effect in its rescheduled state opener against Covington Wednesday morning.
Gibbs won its side of the bracket, which included four teams, with a 1-0 win over Creek Wood Thursday. The Lady Eagles scored the game’s only run in the top of the first inning. Smith got aboard on a base on balls and then stole second base. Williams’ RBI single to left field scored Smith.
Gibbs outlasted DeKalb County in the winner-take-all game 1-0 in 10 innings Friday.
With the international tie-breaker rule in effect, both teams placed a runner on second base to start the 10th inning. After the Lady Tigers (26-6-1) didn’t score, Savanna Melo was placed on second base at the beginning of Gibbs’ 10th inning. After a fly out, Smith bunted for a single and then took second base on defensive indifference. Keck’s line drive to right field scored Melo for the winning run.
Williams and Smith were Gibbs’ top two hitters at state. Williams totaled three runs, eight hits and five RBI in 13 at-bats. Smith scored five runs and had eight hits in 15 at-bats.
Williams’ hits in the tournament included one home run, two triples and two doubles. Lacey Keck had three doubles in the first game. Baker and Maddi Whaley each had a home run in the first game.
In the 29 innings Keck pitched at state, she gave up only 13 hits, two earned runs and four bases on balls, while recording 23 strikeouts.
It was the 12th state championship for Gibbs, which ended the season with a 41-3 record.
Farragut goes two and out at state
Farragut made it back to state, but the stay was a short one.
Dickson County handed the Lady Admirals a 5-1 loss Wednesday morning and Stewarts Creek eliminated Coach Nick Green’s team 15-5 in five innings that afternoon.
The Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first two innings.
Elsa Morrison drove in Rylee Raby in the third inning to cut the deficit to 3-1, but Farragut would get no closer.
Sophomore pitcher Hallie Grace Johnson took the loss.
Winning pitcher Coralee Lee Grove struck out 10 and also went 3 for 4 at the plate.
In the second game, the opposition again built an early 3-0 lead. Farragut battled back to get within 7-4 in the fourth inning, but the Red Hawks scored eight in the fifth inning and the game was called via the 10-run rule.
Stewarts Creek had 19 hits.
Farragut’s season ended with a 30-13-1 record.
