MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Meigs County Lady Tigers aren’t used to having to come from behind, but that was the case here at the Starplex Field No. 4 Friday morning.
The defending Class A state champs had dropped a tough 2-1 loss to Forrest in the winners bracket semifinal on Thursday, but the Lady Tigers came back later that day with a 7-1 victory over Jackson Christian.
They began play needing to win three straight games to win another state title.
It’s one down and two to go following an 8-2 victory over the Summertown Lady Eagles in Friday’s first game.
The Lady Tigers went on to win their second straight Class A title as they beat Forrest twice on Friday by scores of 7-0 and 11-5.
Meigs County, finishing with a record of 40-3 for the season, didn’t waste any time as the Lady Tigers took charge with four runs in the first inning.
That added two more in both the third and fifth innings while the Lady Eagles countered with single runs in the sixth and seventh frames.
“I liked the way we jumped on them early. We did that a lot last year, but we haven’t done that much this season,” said Meigs County coach Jeff Davis.
“We still have a little fight left in us. We haven’t had to face much adversity this year, but I liked the way we responded today. We just need to win two more games.
“Now we can go get a little lunch before we come back and see what happens,” the personable coach added.
Kaylie Moore opened the bottom of the first with a walk and scored ahead of a two-run homer by catcher Aubrey Reed.
Winning pitcher Ashley Rogers then ripped a double and scored the third run when Madison Crabtree followed with another two-sacker.
Summertown starting pitcher Madison Konig, who had yet to record an out, was replaced by Kaley Campbell, a promising eighth grader.
Lindsey Ward greeted her with a single before she retired the next three hitters. Jade Meadows’ fly to center drove in Crabtree with the fourth run.
Crabtree led off the Meigs’ half of the third with a double and scored on a two-run homer by Ward.
Then in the fifth after two outs were quickly recorded, the Lady Tigers added their final two runs. The first came on a single to right by Moore while the second came when Reed dropped down a bunt.
Summertown’s first run came after pinch-hitter Taytum McGill singled to lead off the sixth. She advanced on a passed ball and scored on a single by Anisten Burleson.
Then in the seventh, Jenna Brazier led off with a double off the fence in left, went to second on a groundout by Hailey Jones and scored on another groundout by Megan Dinwiddie.
Rogers then got a grounder to first from McGill to end the game and the season for the Lady Eagles.
Rogers was again the winning pitcher for Meigs as she allowed two runs on five hits. She also finished with 14 strikeouts and walked one.
“It’s nice to be back in the championship game,” the hard-throwing junior said shortly after the game ended.
“We came out hitting from the beginning and that made my job a whole lot easier, but I just hope that I can keep going and not get tired,” the Tennessee Lady Vol commitment added.
While Summertown was limited to five hits, the Lady Tigers finished with a dozen.
Reed, Crabtree, Ward and Kassidy Kenny all had two apiece.
The Lady Tigers now wait to face that same Forrest team in the winner’s bracket final at 2. Should the Lady Tigers win that game, a second game with the Lady Rockets would begin around 5:30.
SUMMERTOWN 000 001 1 – 2 5 2
MEIGS CO. 402 020 x – 8 12 0
Konig, Campbell (1), Konig (3) and Gabel; Rogers and Reed.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)