Gibbs ends Lady Dragons’ season
Clinton infielder and one of the underclassmen stars Addi Gamble pounces on a pitch for a hit during district tournament play against Halls High School. (photo:Ricky Williams )
“This one hurt a little bit because I really thought we outplayed them,” Sams said. “You can’t have walks against that team or they will score.”
The Lady Dragons, the District 4-AAA runners-up, and the District 3-AAA champion Lady Eagles were locked in a scoreless tie when Clinton grabbed the upper hand in the top of the fourth inning when Marissa Eccles came up with an RBI single that scored Tomi Taylor with the game’s first run to give the Lady Dragons a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Eagles (33-4) tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when their pitcher, Lacey Keck, came up with an RBI double that scored McKenzie Morton.
The Lady Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by Ella Lawhead.
“We outplayed them,” Sams said. “We had a missed pitch call on the home run. Other than that, they didn’t do anything.”
Clinton pitcher Bree McKamey closed out the season by throwing another gem as she had a complete game, going six innings. She gave up two runs, five hits and one walk and stuck out five.
“Bree pitched well,” Sams said.
McKamey had a perfect game through three innings until she walked Gibbs’ Jordan Reagan before she gave up a triple to Keck, who surrendered one run and four hits while notching five strikeouts.
Sams, while a bit disappointed, is already looking forward to the 2024 campaign.
“I’m really proud of the kids and we’ll have everybody back next year,” he said. “And we have a great group of incoming freshmen, so we’ll be even stronger next year.
“I’m proud of these girls and I can’t wait. We’re just going to get stronger and stronger.”