Gibbs Softball wins back-to-back state titles
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WATE) — It was a duel of the defense for Gibbs and DeKalb. The game went 10 innings until the Eagles finally broke through to win the Class 3A Championship 1-0.
The battle showcased a level of resiliency that the Eagles have built up throughout the entire season.
'I think we just needed to be patient,' said Gibbs Softball head coach Carol Mitchell. 'I think we got better throughout the game with their pitcher. We knew that she moved the ball around a lot. First couple of innings were a little rough, and then we started hitting her a little better and putting a little bit together, and we just kept inching forward.'
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DeKalb threatened in the top of the tenth with a runner on third. Gibbs' Malyiah Smith made a diving play to keep DeKalb off the board.
'She's that kind of player,' Mitchell explained. 'That's what she does. She's special.'
In the bottom of the frame, senior pitcher Lacey Keck, who pitched all 10 shutout innings, delivered the walk-off hit.
'I was trying to get my runner to come back and tag because it landed right in front of the girl, and I thought she was going to try to catch it, but she didn't,' Mitchell said. 'My runner, she adjusted and made it home.'
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'I was a little nervous,' said Gibbs Softball senior Lacey Keck. 'I couldn't really tell where it was. If it was down. I don't even think I saw it when I hit. I'm glad my team was at second and third, so that I could get them in.'
Keck and Smith were two of the Eagles' four seniors. Mitchell mentioned that the group of seniors has been the team's go-to all year.
Gibbs' back-to-back 3A state titles puts the program's all-time tally at 12..
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