By By Robby Atkinson/staff writer
October 26, 2003
JACKSON How sweet it is!
West Lauderdale entered the state finals with only one thing on its mind and that was to take home another state crown. The Lady Knights did just that by defeating Corinth in three games (13-12, 10-11,19-5) to win the 2003 Class 3A MHSAA Slow-Pitch State Championship.
This marks the second straight 3A state title for the West Lauderdale program and the fourth in the past seven years for the Lady Knights.
In game one the Lady Knights were pushed to the limit, but took a slim 13-12 win over Corinth to take the 1-0 lead in the series. West Lauderdale opened the scoring in the second by grabbing a 5-0 lead over Corinth. Katie Moulds led the inning off with a single and Holly Herrington followed with a single to put a pair of runners aboard for the Lady Knights.
Katie McAlister came up with a single to score the first run for West Lauderdale and Brook Bounds followed with a two-run single to make the score 3-0. The final two runs of the second were knocked in on a single by Kristi Lantz to give WLHS a 5-0 lead.
West Lauderdale added three more runs in the third and two scored on a double by Kayla Eubanks to extend the Lady Knight lead over Corinth. After five runs over the next couple of innings by Corinth, the Lady Knights put together another five-run inning to take a 13-5 lead. Josie Matthews delivered a pinch hit single that plated a pair of runs for the Lady Knights and the big blow of the game would come moments later.
Eubanks drilled a three-run home run in the last of the fifth inning to give the Lady Knights a comfortable eight-run lead. The Warriors charged right back in their last at bat to try and mount a huge comeback. Kayla Manus collected a three-run home run and Cat Simmons also smashed a three run round tripper as well. All of the home runs in the game were also inside-the park homers for both teams. Despite the comeback by Corinth, the Lady Knights were able to hold on for the 13-12 win.
In game two Corinth used a West Lauderdale error in the final inning to tie the series at 1-1 with a narrow 11-10 victory. The Lady Knights held a 2-1 lead going into the fourth inning, but the West Lauderdale offense finally came alive. Matthews drove in a pair of runs on a triple and Lantz also drove in a run on a groundout to give the Lady Knights a 5-1 lead.
The Warriors cut into the lead with a pair runs on a single by Simmons and make the score 5-3. West Lauderdale answered in the fifth with three more runs to move the score to 8-3. One run scored on a single by McAlister, while two more crossed the plate on a single from Leah Hailey.
The Lady Knights could not stop the hot bat of Hannah Sutton. Sutton was responsible for four runs over the next two innings on a pair of singles to bring the Warriors to a 10-10 tie. The game winning scored on a West Lauderdale error in the infield and give the Warriors a miracle comeback.
In game three West Lauderdale scored early and often and clinched the series with an impressive 19-5 win. The game was highlighted by a 10-run third inning. Herrington had a triple in the inning and Moulds also collected two RBI's on a single. Lantz also chipped in with a three run homer in the final game of the series.