Lady Royals Said It All – – “Final Four”

“What more can you say?”, one fan asked, “the girls said it all out there on the field.”  The Lady Royals answered the Blue Devils coming back from a 0-2 deficit to win 7-6.  Coach Brian Watson said, “the girls never gave up, they had an answer for everything the Devils offered up tonight, the momentum shifted so many times in the game but the leaders stepped up and we won the game.” The Lady Royals will travel to Clermont, Fl to play in the State Semi-Finals.  The game will be Monday, May 7 at 12 noon.  The State 1A Championship game will be Tuesday, May 8 at 4 pm.

“We believed in this group of girls, they have it in them to win, about half way through the season they (the girls) started to believe in themselves.”, said Coach Watson.  Watson is assisted by Ashley Griffen, Jacob Jordan and Brian Moye.  “The girls didn’t complain as the practices were longer and longer, they wanted that district title and look where we are today”, Coach Watson said of his team.  “Sydney Lowery, has been tremendous on the mound for us.” , said Coach Watson.

In the bottom of the sixth with the game tied, Jay started with the top of the line up. Senior Tessa Hendricks and Becca Callaway talked about this being their last at-bat here at Jay.  “What do you want? ” Tessa asked Becca, “I want mine to be a hit”.  Tessa got her hit, a big 2 out double.  But the Blue Devils wanted nothing of Becca, (especially after her 2 out triple in the second to score 3 runs) and walked her on four straight balls. Camille Driver stepped up to the plate and knocked a double scoring  the winning run.

Senior Tessa Hendricks stated, “we had the District Title as our goal, this is just awesome, this is the icing on the cake and going to state is like the cherries on top”.  Both of Tessa’s brothers have traveled  with Jay High School to the Baseball State Finals, so this is a sweet victory and memory for her to be traveling to a state  competition.

Becca Callaway who signed with Pensacola State College at the beginning of the season said, “this win is better than awesome, I have always dreamed of competing in the State Championship. ”  When asked what was going through her mind in the top of the seventh with a one run lead Becca replied, “I just try to stay calm, zone out and think of this as just another game, another pitch, another out.”  She went on to say, “that triple in the second scoring the three runs, was the biggest hit of my career, I have hit longer balls, but to have that hit to put the Royals back on top, it was an indescribable feeling.”

Olivia Wright, the lead-off batter,  expressed her thoughts on the seniors, “our two seniors were amazing, they really stepped up, they are great leaders.”  She also said, “the coaches have worked all season preparing us to be mentally touch, keep our eyes off the scoreboard, to focus and to never give up.  I give them a lot of credit for having us ready for this game.”

Ashlyn Geck, centerfielder, made a shoestring catch in the top of the 5th with a runner on third with two outs.  “I have been working all season to make those catches, and I am so glad to be able to make that play, the coaches have run situational plays with us and tonight it all came together.”

Stats: WP Sydney Lowery 7IP, 5K’s, 6Hits, 1BB, 1HB; Olivia Wright 1-2, 2Runs, 2BB; Ashlyn Geck 1-3, Run; Tessa Hendricks 3-4, 2-2B, 3Runs, RBI; Becca Calloway 2-3, 3B, BB, Run, 4 RBI’s; Camille Driver 2-3, 2B, 2RBI’s.

For Holmes County: C.Jones 2-3, 2- 3B, 3 Runs; S. Clark 3-4, Run 2B, 3B.

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Region 1 Winners