The Patriots Jaylin Adkins, the junior center fielder and pitcher for the Lady Patriots with the bases loaded, two out, drilled a rocket over the head of the right fielder one hop off the fence to drive in the two winning runs in the come from behind victory. The blow propelled the Patriots into the championship game against Hickory Ridge who defeated Porter Ridge in the nightcap.

Butler would strike first taking a 1-0 lead in their initial at-bat. With two outs, a well hit ball to right field was not handled with runners on the corners scoring the run from third base. The official scorer scored the play a hit so it was an earned run.

In the fourth, the Bulldogs would strike again, but this time for 3 huge runs to take an apparent comfortable 4-0 lead. The ladies scored on a combination of multiple base hits,  two base on balls, and one miscue on the infield.

Meanwhile, the Patriots who hit the ball fairly well were not finding any holes and hitting right at many of the Bulldog defenders. The Bulldogs are a solid defensive team, especially up the middle and on the corners. Also, pitcher Mckenzie Silvia was pitching a shut-out for the first five innings of the contest.

In the sixth, the Patriots were able to break through and score three runs of their own.  Maya Douglas singled, Brianna Grant blasted a triple scoring Douglas, Adkins singled scoring Grant, then Anna Easter delivered another single with the runner on second to score the third run of the inning.  We now had a tight 4-3 ball game.

Adkins entered the game in relief of the Patriots ace starter Kayla Douglas, she was able to shut-down the Bulldogs in both the sixth and seventh innings keeping the ball game close and within striking distance.

In the seventh, the Patriots last at-bat with their backs up against the wall, they came fighting back like true regular season conference champions. Emily Shaver, was hit by a pitch, Abrianna Berry walked, Mallory Shaver would ground out to third, but the runners were able to advance, Butler would intentionally walk hard hitting Maya Douglas to load the bases to have a force play at any base. The strategy seemed to work when Grant would hit a hard come backer to Silvia who would get the force at home for the second out.

Now enter Adkins to the batters box, there are two outs and the bases loaded, the first pitch is a swing and a miss for strike one, the second pitch was just inside for a ball, on the next pitch Adkins would drill a drive over the right fielders head one hop to the fence to empty the bases for the walk-off and being credited for a triple with three RBI’s on the play.