Calhoun coach Diane Smith watches warmups as Calhoun hosts Ringgold in a girls softball game on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, in Calhoun, Ga. Ringgold defeated Calhoun 6-5.COLUMBUS, Ga. - Diane Smith is known as a hard-nosed coach, a veteran of more than three decades who keeps her emotions inside.
The Calhoun High School softball coach couldn't contain her composure any longer Saturday after her perseverant team won the GHSA Class AAA state championship with a 4-2 victory over Cook. Smith's team had endured a season in which some players quit, others were injured and several unlikely heroes emerged.
They swept the AAA field without No. 2 pitcher and cleanup hitter Blair Hall, who was home as her family is dealing with an illness. After freshman pitcher Maggie McBrayer recorded the final out to complete a four-hitter, Smith let her guard down.
"All the stuff we've been through this year this one means more to me than any," the now four-time championship coach said through tears. "Early in the season we had people quitting, injuries, one thing after another, and this weekend we had to play without one of our top players, but these girls wouldn't quit."
The Lady Yellow Jackets (30-8) started quickly, getting hits from Carlie Henderson and Erin Barnes before freshman phenom Lyndi Rae Davis hit a three-run home run in the top of the first. The Lady Hornets (23-9) made it a one-run game in the bottom half on Claire Dobson's two-run double, but Calhoun answered on senior catcher Adella Carver's solo homer in the second.
There would be no more scoring, though Cook had two runnrs on and one out in the fifth before McBrayer got a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat. She retired the final six Cook hitters in order.
"This means so much," said Carver, one of three Calhoun seniors. "We've faced a lot of adversity, but we really relied on each other and we had to come together as a team to overcome everything. When we won region, I knew we had the heart to do this, and we didn't lose again."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.