Spring Hill rallies to take 2nd title in a row

Class 2A Softball

Spring Hill 2, Hector 1

FAYETTEVILLE -- Hector was a strike away from its first softball state championship. But in barely a blink of an eye, it was Spring Hill won its second consecutive title.

With the bases loaded and two strikes against her in the top of the seventh inning, designated player Andi Sennett ripped a single down the right field line to score two runs and lift the Lady Bears to a 2-1 victory over the Lady Wildcats in the Class 2A softball championship game Friday morning at Bogle Park.

Sennett's base hit was Spring Hill's third of the seventh inning after it had totaled three in the first six innings and never more than one in any inning.

"After getting the second strike, at that point I was just praying," said Sennett, a sophomore who missed Spring Hill's run to the 2015 state title with a knee injury. "I just wanted it for my team. I have worked hard this year and I am just so happy it paid off."

Hector scored its only run in the bottom of the fifth on three walks and an error. Paige Lee drew a bases-loaded walk to score pinch-runner Emily Mathis and give the Lady Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

After having only two of its previous 12 batters reach base, Spring Hill opened the top of the seventh with a single down the left-field line by Katie Rivera. With one out, Taylor Teague ripped another single to left, putting runners at first and second. After a pop out on a bunt attempt , Alyssa Dougan walked to load the bases.

Sennett, who was named the game's MVP. then delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to right.

"Andi could not have come through in the clutch any better than if we had planned it that way, " first-year Spring Hill Coach Chaley Porter said. "We're better hitters than what we showed today, and we just didn't show it until the seventh inning. We couldn't be more proud of them. These girls have worked hard and they deserve it."

Kalyne Powell allowed three hits and struck out 11 to earn the victory. She worked her way out of a jam in the bottom of the fourth after a light rain picked up enough to make the ball slick. She hit Hector's Samantha Barton with a pitch and then the next two pitches were in the dirt, allowing Barton to advance to third.

The umpires then sent both teams to their dugouts for a rain delay that lasted just six minutes. When play resumed, Powell struck out the next three batters to end the threat.

Spring Hill totaled six hits, singles by Sennett, Teague, Rivera, Dougan, Maegan Ward and Kaitlyn Ward.

Hector's three singles were by Lee, Baylee Riley and Alyssa Gilland. Darci Fountain tooke the loss despite striking out 11.

Sports on 05/21/2016

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