Sports

PREP SOFTBALL: GHSA Class AAAA state tournament
Lady Trojans begin Elite 8 march today

• A memorable 1-0 win last weekend sent Lee County softball to Columbus for the first time since moving to fast pitch while creating a surge of confidence heading into today’s opener.

Paul Dehner Jr.

LEESBURG — Just describing the moment gave Lee County coach Lynn Avery chills.

Watching seven years of hard work become a reality with one line shot past shortstop will do that.

Hayley Knight’s two-out, game-winner in the bottom of the seventh last Saturday against Northside, Warner Robins delivered the Lady Trojans their first berth in the GHSA Class AAAA fast-pitch Elite Eight since upgrading the program from slow pitch in 2001.

“It was almost surreal,” Avery said of the 1-0 victory.

Five days removed from the unforgettable sectional tournament, the memory remains clear of Knight running in joy around first base, then continuing with a victory lap all the way to third before forming ground zero in a pile of elated teammates.

Yet, the joy came from earning a new opportunity: the chance to play for a state title.

That begins today at 2 p.m. when Lee County (20-11) takes on Cherokee (20-11-1) at the state tournament in Columbus.

“We have to go up there with intentions of doing what we set out to do,” Avery said. “You don’t want to go there to just be satisfied to be there, we are going there for a purpose. This is what it is all about.”

Avery then added: “This is what we wanted to get back to at Lee County; we wanted to get back to the Elite Eight. This is the first step.”

A mix of youth and pitching has developed a contagious sense of confidence heading to Columbus thanks to surviving the wild journey to arrive.

Lee County won its fourth consecutive Region 1-AAAA title earlier this season. Yet, heading to Hampton, it faced the demons of past failures. Never had it qualified for the next round of play and the past two seasons it fell just one win short.

So when Whitewater waxed Lee County, 15-0, to set up an elimination game with Northside, ranked No. 5 in the state by gasports.com, it had an all too familiar ominous feeling.

Especially considering reigning region pitcher of the year Brittny Dennison exited the 15-0 blowout against Whitewater early.

“I was pretty nervous the last game,” Dennison said. “The game before, they had to pull me out because I was really sore … I wasn’t doing good at all. I iced it down for about 30 minutes, then they soaked me in Icy Hot and I went back and warmed up for a long time before the second game.”

Dennison responded with a complete-game shutout, allowing three hits, striking out six and walking three.

“I knew if I could get past the first inning with doing fine, then I’d be all right,” she said. “I was just scared I would be tired and feeling sore, but ice and Icy Hot worked.”

So did a stolen base by pinch-runner Kaylee Dixon in the bottom of the final inning, setting up the third hit of the day for Knight and one of the biggest in the history of Lee County softball.

“I hit the first pitch she pitched to me. I had everyone yelling at me,” Knight said. “The coaches said I could do it.”

Once she did and the reality of accomplishing a long-denied goal sunk in, one truth seeped through the bright smile and braces of the sophomore hero.

“That just got us even more ready for this weekend.”

The weekend begins against a team very similar to the Lady Trojans. Cherokee holds an identical record minus one tie and won eight games in a row to finish the season. That includes a three-game sweep into the Elite Eight at the North Sectionals.

A win would advance Lee County to a 6 p.m. game against the winner of Whitewater-Marist. Yes, the same Whitewater team that beat the Lady Trojans, 15-0, on Saturday.

A loss would set up a game Friday at 11 a.m. against the loser of the same contest.

Avery realizes it will be an electric atmosphere. But after last weekend, she also
realizes it’s one her team can handle.

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