Whether the Caledonia High School fast-pitch softball team was “tearing the roof off” or the Lady Confederates were picking each other, there were plenty of memorable moments to the 20015 season.
That ride came to an end Saturday with an 8-4 loss to Senatobia in Game 2 of the best-of-three Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A second-round series.
“I am very proud of these girls know we went a lot farther than anybody gave them credit for. It was a good year,” Caledonia coach Robin Elmore said. “They’re just a great group of kids.”
The game marked the end of the coaching tenure for Elmore, who was notified her contract as the school’s slow- and fast-pitch softball coach weren’t going to be renewed. The move was made official April 10 at the Lowndes County School District’s board meeting.
Elmore, who has been head coach at Caledonia High since 2007, when the team lost in the Class 3A state title series to Newton County, declined to comment about her situation. Instead, she opted to praise her players for a fantastic season.
“The team had a great year as far as the unity,” Elmore said. “I don’t think could have found a better scripture in the Bible to exemplify what this team has done this year. They always have been there for each other. It has been a great group of girls. They will have a very, very, very special place in my heart. They always will.”
Elmore said seniors Alex Burns, Hope Burton, and Nicole Kifer did a great job leading the team by example. She said she hopes rising seniors Cassie Obman and Stephanie Wilkes will be able to carry on that leadership ability next season.
This season, Caledonia used a grand slam by Hope Harbin to beat Leake Central in its final Region 4 game. It then used a 1-0 victory by Kosciusko against West Lauderdale to earn the region’s third and final playoff spot. Caledonia built on that momentum by beating top-seeded Amory in the play-in round and then defeating Cleveland. It has to survive a Game 2 loss in Cleveland before it rallied to take the best-of-three series.
Against Senatobia, Caledonia lost 14-3 on Friday, which means it had to win two games Saturday to keep its season alive. But starting pitcher Leeah Henson, who started Game 1, was too tough. Elmore said Henson mixed her pitches and hit her spots to keep the Lady Confederates off balance.
“The kids never gave up,” Elmore said. “You have got to take your hat off to the Senatobia pitcher. She didn’t have any base on balls. We had to earn everything we got. She went inside and outside and then tried to get them to chase high. She didn’t have overwhelming speed, but she did a great job pitching. She had a lot of movement on the ball. It wasn’t the speed.”
Harbin a single and a sacrifice, Obman had two singles, including a bunt, Burton and Lauren Duckworth had a single and an RBI, Wilkes had a sacrifice, Kifer had a double and an RBI, and Makayla Taylor had a single and an RBI.
Burns, the team’s third baseman, didn’t play in Saturday. Senatobia leadoff hitter AC Storey started Game 1 with a line drive that hit Burns in the right hand. Burns stayed in the game, but she had to leave in the second inning after she popped a ball up to the outfield and stopped short of first base and clutched her hand.
Elmore said Burns did “everything she could to try to play,” which was just another reason she couldn’t be more proud of a group of seniors. She said Burns, Burton, and Kifer did a great job setting the tone, but they were only parts of a team Elmore said was special.
“Once we settled down, I think we played great,” said Elmore, whose team outhit Senatobia in Game 2. “We came through with four hits in a row in the seventh inning to make them wake back up. She ended up working back out of it and did a great job.”
n Pickens Academy finishes third at state tournament: At Montgomery,
Alabama, the Pickens Academy fast-pitch softball team went 2-2 at the Alabama Independent School Association Class AA State tournament this past weekend and finished third in the state.
In Game 1, Pickens Academy beat Northside Methodist 5-3. Kacy Noland pitched a complete-game three-hitter. She didn’t allow an earned run. She walked one and struck out 14.
Shelby Lowe was 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs, while Noland had a double and scored two runs.
In Game 2, Pickens Academy beat Marengo Academy 2-1. Lowe pitched a complete-game two-hitter. She also didn’t allow an earned run. She didn’t walk a batter and struck out 13.
In Game 3, Pickens Academy lost to eventual state champion Macon East 2-1 in eight innings. Lowe pitched another complete game. She allowed two earned runs on four hits. She walked two and struck out 12. Lauren Duckworth, Noland, Lizzie Shirley, Lowe, and Abigail Colvin had hits.
In Game 4, Pickens Academy lost to Wilcox Academy 3-0. Noland allowed one unearned run in five innings. She surrendered four hits. She struck out four. Lowe allowed one earned run in two innings. She gave up four hits and also struck out four.
Duckworth and Noland had hits.
The Lady Pirates finished their season
19-10.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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