COLUMBUS, Ga. – Across the street from the South Commons Softball Complex, an emergency warning alarm sounded. Though meant to warn area residents of pending danger, on this sunny fall Saturday it was a portent for the Providence Christian softball team.
Tied entering the fourth inning against undefeated Gordon Lee in the Georgia Class A state championship game, the underdog Stars were about to be blindsided. A seven-run inning built on bunting, baserunning and pressure sent the Lady Trojans to an 8-1 win and a 38-0 final record.
The championship ends a run of four consecutive runner-up finishes and puts Gordon Lee in the record books as the state’s first undefeated champion.
“We got some key walks and a few bunts and they fell apart,” Lady Trojans coach Dana Mull said. “Sometimes that’s all it takes. The inning before they had the bases loaded and the pressure was on us. Fortunately, we made the plays.”
Providence had tied the game at 1 on Lauren Eggert’s RBI single off Gordon Lee ace Brenne Nation and had the bases loaded with two out. Nation went to a 3-1 count on Jessie Kowalawics, who then fouled off three pitches before popping out to shortstop Kendall Johnson.
“It was shaky at that point, but we knew if we refocused and did our best that we would still win,” said Nation, who allowed just three hits and struck out 10 batters. “We came in and scored seven runs, and that really took the pressure off.”
The big inning started with a Lesslie Bohannon single, one of just four hits against hard-throwing Kylie Kleinschmidt. After a failed sacrifice attempt, pinch-hitter Brittany Lanham walked and Nation’s fly ball to center was dropped, loading the bases.
Anna Quinn then worked Kleinschmidt for an RBI walk, and the Lady Trojans followed with consecutive bunts by Sam Taylor, Johnson and Kelsie Bickett against the rattled Providence infield. The speedy Taylor beat hers out for a 3-1 lead, and the next two resulted in misplays as the Stars tried to cut the run off at home with late throws. Another error led to the seventh run, and from there it was easy for Nation and her defense.
“It means so much to us and it was our time,” said outfielder Brooks, one of the Lady Trojans’ three seniors. “We had to do it this year. After the past few years we had to come down here and prove ourselves, and we did. We knew if we jumped on them we would win this game. Going home an undefeated state champion is the best feeling in the world.”