Talk about keeping it in the family. Let’s back up to Tuesday, September 17. Trailing 7-6 to the Robert Toombs Christian Academy Crusaders in the bottom of the eighth inning, the CCA Lady Patriots’ Abrah Harris drove a two-run double into the left center gap to walk off the Crusaders.
Friday afternoon, her first cousin, Brilynn Waldron, did the exact same thing to the Crusaders. Only this time, the stakes were a little higher. The two teams were in the state tournament and the winner advanced to the championship game. The loser wouldn’t be out of the tournament but would have to fight through the loser’s bracket to get to the title game.
In the bottom of the seventh, down 11-10, Waldron doubled to left, scoring Arabelle Roberts and Emma Gourley to walk off Robert Toombs 12-11 and punch CCA’s ticket to the championship game.
The game was an emotional roller coaster for both teams. The Lady Patriots had to face Meredith Durden, one of the best pitchers in the region. They also had to overcome a shocking 11-3 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Crusaders to end the regular season.
The Lady Patriots seemed unfazed to start the game. They scored three in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead. Gracie Giddens doubled to right, scoring Gourley. Then yesterday’s hero, Mattie Lewis, singled to right center to score Waldron and Giddens.
The Crusaders answered with five in the third then CCA added three more in the bottom of the frame to take a 6-5 lead. RTCA blew the game wide open with a six-run fourth inning to open up what appeared to be a comfortable 11-6 advantage.
The Lady Patriots, however, never panicked. They chipped away at the Crusaders’ lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs to get within three. Roberts and Gourley started things off with a pair of singles. Then Waldron laid down a bunt, moving Roberts to third and Gourley to second. Emy Lowery followed with a single that scored Roberts and Gourley.
CCA kept the Crusaders off the scoreboard while the Lady Patriots’ bats kept working. The old saying goes that two-out hits will get you into softball/baseball heaven — and CCA found the Promised Land in the sixth inning. With two out, Giddens scored on a single by Lewis. Cadence Cravey followed with a double to center that scored Lewis. After six innings, the comfortable five-run lead the Crusaders enjoyed had dwindled to 11-10.
Robert Toombs went fairly quietly in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for another CCA miracle. The second batter of the inning, Roberts, singled with one out. That brought Gourley to the plate. Roberts stole second on a 1-0 count. Then, on a 3-1 count, Gourley singled, moving Roberts to third.
Waldron strode to the plate. She took a strike then fouled off two pitches. CCA head coach Jeremy Coram took a chance and sent Gourley to second. She slid in safely, putting Roberts and Gourley in scoring position. Then, on a 1-2 count, Waldron drove a double to left center. Roberts and Gourley both scored to give CCA a stunning 12-11 walk-off win.
Gourley, Waldron, Lowery, and Giddens all had three hits apiece. Lewis drove in three while Gourley scored three.
Giddens got the win for the Lady Patriots. She allowed 11 hits and eight runs (six earned) while striking out eight and walking two.
“We knew it would be a dogfight coming in. Robert Toombs is a great team and they are well coached. I am so proud of these girls for battling, competing, and believing in each other. We set a goal at the beginning of the year and that was to play on the last day possible day. Well, tomorrow is it and we are still in this thing!” said Coach Coram following the game.
The win puts CCA in the championship game tomorrow at 10 a.m. At the time of this posting, Crisp Academy, which defeated David Emanuel Academy and Thomas Jefferson Academy on Friday, and Robert Toombs are playing to see who will face the Lady Patriots in the title game.