Two games left.
Sammy Lindsey and the Central Academy fast-pitch softball team dreamed in July that they would be in a position to win a state championship.
It didn’t matter that it was 139 degrees in the heart of summer. The Vikings were on the field taking the first steps to what they hoped would be a marathon that would take them into October.
With the final straightaway in sight, the Central Academy team that hoped and thought it was good enough to win a title knows today it is good enough. Now the only thing left to do is to take care of business.
Buoyed by strong pitching performances by Allie Beth Rigdon and Courtney Gaylord, Central Academy defeated Briarfield Academy 14-2 and Tunica Academy in the Class A Overall State tournament at Shiloh Park in Brandon.
“We have had a lot of wins in my time as coach, but this is the highlight of my coaching career,” Central Academy coach Sammy Lindsey said. “We have seventh-graders starting, so this is only going to carry over (to future years). We are going to finish the deal this time.”
The victories helped Central Academy (18-12) climb back through the losers’ bracket to get a chance to play Humphreys Academy on Wednesday in Game 1 of the best-of-three title series. The time for Game 1 will be finalized today, as will times for Game 2 and Game 3 (if needed) at Humphreys Academy in Belzoni.
On Saturday, Central Academy beat Riverdale Academy 12-2. A 6-5 loss to Humphreys Academy dropped Central Academy into the losers’ bracket, where it had to win one game to advance to Monday’s action. Central Academy accomplished that goal with a 12-2 victory against Calhoun Academy.
On Monday, Central Academy came out hot at the plate against Briarfield Academy and carried it over to the game against Tunica Academy, which beat Central Academy twice last weekend in Macon to win the Class A North State title. This time, though, Central Academy scored three runs in the first inning and played from ahead. Lindsey said the confidence the team gained Saturday in a loss to Humphreys Academy carried over to Monday.
“The game against Humphreys when they lost 6-5, I think the girls really understood they were capable of beating them even though we didn’t,” said Lindsey, whose team has won nine slow-pitch state titles but is looking for its first championship in fast-pitch softball. “I think that carried over to today. They were sky high. They were totally focused today. They know now they are just as good as any of the teams in Class A.
“We have that mental edge now.”
Lindsey tried to instill that mental edge in the summer with workouts in the stifling heat. He might have been exaggerating when he recalled the temperature on some of those days, but he wasn’t dipping into hyperbole Monday when he said he was cold on a day when it was 50 degrees. Unfortunately, he said he had to tough it out in shorts and Crocs that left his feet feeling like “ice blocks.” But Lindsey was willing to weather the cold temperatures to prove to his players he was tough and that they had to believe.
What Lindsey saw Monday inspired him and gave him confidence to know the Vikings are going to be ready for anything that happens Wednesday.
“You have to believe in yourself, and we are there,” Lindsey said. “We are so focused right now. Today it was really unreal. It was one of my best experiences since I have been here. It is going to carry over. I am not promising anything, but we are going to give it all we have got. The girls know they can do it. The next step is to just get it done.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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