Dale in the finals, Stroud in the semis
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Stroud third baseman Makenna Hall takes a throw as Dale’s Emmie Idleman gets back to the base during the state semifinals last week. Looking on are Dale coach Andy Powell and The Blue. Photo/Rick Hester
Stroud and Dale fastpitch closed out the season last weekend as two of the top four teams in the state in Class 2A.
Stroud, winners in 12 of its previous 13 games, beat Amber-Pocassett 9-2 in the first round of the state tournament on Thursday, then fell 7-3 to finals-bound Dale on Friday.
That win gave the Lady Pirates their eighth straight appearance in the fastpitch state finals. Ancient rival Latta prevailed 5-3 in that one.
“We had a tremendous year, finishing 26-7,” said Stroud coach Lezli Robinson. “We were conference champs, regional champs and state semifinalists.
“We accomplished some great things, but what I am most proud of with this group is their cohesiveness.
“They came to play and practice every day as one. No one better than the other - just all for the group.
“This approach by them every day was tremendous in our success. We had great leadership all year by our 5 seniors.
“We love them and will miss them but we have a bright future ahead of us.”
Macey Morris had two hits and three runs batted in against Am-Po to lead the Lady Tigers. Makenna Hall drove in two runs and winning pitcher Jadyn Young scattered eight hits.
For Dale, the championship game against Latta was a bad case of deja vu
Five years ago, the Lady Pirates gave up five unearned runs in one inning in the state finals and lost to Latta 5-3.
This year, it was the same script: five unearned runs in one inning and a 5-3 loss. “It was uncanny and a little hard to take,” said Dale coach Andy Powell.
Dale’s senior class was the fifth in a row to reach the finals all four of their seasons, and they’ve also played in the last two slowpitch state finals.
“That’s a testament to the five seniors on the team,” Powell said. “They wanted to carry on the tradition.
“I’m super proud of them. They’re good girls, good human beings and it sure has been fun.”