The Lady Red Raiders celebrate after receiveing the TSSAA state championship trophy Saturday. Baylor defeated GPS for the Division II AA state softball championship at Murfreesboro’s Starplex.
Staff photo by Robin Rudd/Chattanooga Times Free PressMURFREESBORO, Tenn.-How sneaky of Baylor to break out a secret weapon in the state softball championship game.
The Lady Red Raiders played GPS on Saturday morning for the fifth time this season, but the TSSAA Division II-AA final at Starplex field No. 3 was the first time the Bruisers had faced pitcher Sarah Moore.
Moore’s variety of speeds and locations stymied the opposition all day, and Baylor earned its sixth title in program history by defeating GPS 3-0. It was the third Baylor girls’ team championship of this Spring Fling, following tennis and track.
Baylor (33-8) won the two regular-season softball meetings with the Bruisers and beat them 5-2 in the winners-bracket final at the Spring Fling on Thursday. GPS (18-15) won 6-5 on Friday in the first game of the final, forcing the extra championship game in the double-elimination format.
Coach Kelli Smith, who had pitched junior Kaitie Sims throughout the state tournament, as well as each previous time the Lady Raiders played GPS, said she finalized her decision to go with Moore earlier in the morning.