COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Gordon Lee Lady Trojans are one game from making history after defeating Providence Christian 4-1 in the GHSA Class A softball tournament Friday, but it wasn’t a comfortable victory.
They will play for the title this morning at 11 against the winner of the 9 a.m. game between Providence Christian and Prince Avenue Christian. That winner will have to defeat top-ranked Gordon Lee twice to wrestle the title away.
The Lady Trojans (37-0), attempting to become the first undefeated fastpitch champion in state history, trailed 1-0 after a half-inning Friday. Though admittedly feeling pressure to complete the perfect season – and end a four-year runner-up streak – Gordon Lee came right back with a vengeance.
Junior shortstop Kendall Johnson hit a one-out home run to center field off hard-throwing Providence senior pitcher Kylie Kleinschmidt, easing the team’s nerves. Lesslie Bohannon opened the second inning with a triple, and Courtney Towns followed with a two-run homer to left.
“It hasn’t happened that many times this year, but when we have gotten behind it hasn’t seemed to bother us, and they’ve rebounded like today and got the run right back,” coach Dana Mull said. “That’s a great pitcher we just faced. She made a few mistakes and we took advantage of it.”
Gordon Lee’s own star pitcher, junior Brenna Nation, then took control, allowing only one runner past second base the rest of the way. Providence had runners on third and second in the fourth inning, but Nation got Katy Berry to foul a bunt attempt with two strikes, ending the inning and only real threat.
Now the Lady Trojans get their shot at history, something they can’t help but consider.
“We’ve definitely thought about it,” said Johnson, who added an RBI bunt single in the fifth to close the scoring. “We don’t like to talk about it much, but it’s impossible not to think about it. It’s just a good feeling knowing it’s close. We’re going to give it everything we have, no matter what.”