Dillon’s #5 Shayna Covington bunts to the pitcher and reaches first safely, scoring #17 Auh’Keria Smiling. (Photos by Johnnie Daniels/THE DILLON HERALD.)
Central took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Monday night in Dillon. With one out, the runner on second advanced to third on a passed ball. Dillon pitcher Shaquailla German walked Central’s Carlee Belk, with Chesney Miller acting as a courtesy runner. Miller advanced on ball one for Kassie Mann, who bunted to the pitcher on the next throw and was put out at first. German struck out Taylor Lowery to end the threat with two runners on base.
Lowery took the mound for Central and Dillon’s Shayna Covington led off with a bunt and arrived safely to third on a missed ball. German lined one to left for the first out but scored Covington to tie things 1-1. Rebecca Callahan struck out, but Tara Grimsley hit one into the gap between left and center for a double. Da’Kerhia Samuel followed with a hit to the left fence for another double to score Grimsley, but Taylor Price popped up behind second with the short stop making the catch to end the inning with Dillon ahead 2-1.
German retired the first Central batter in the top of the second and walked Makayla Krest. Central’s Jamyia Tyson bunted to the pitcher but an attempted double play was foiled by a bad throw to first, allowing Krest to advance to second. Destinie Funderburk hit a grounder to third and was thrown out at first to end the inning for the Eagles with one runner on base. Lowery struck out both Erin Bailey and Auh’Keria Smiling to lead off the bottom of the inning, and Shar’Asia Samuel popped up to third for the last out.
In the top of the third, Bridae Brown lined one to center and made it safely to first, and Jakia Seegers singled to reach safely. Belk hit a grounder to third but was put out and Dillon made the double play for the second out. Mann popped up over third to send the Wildcats to bat.
Covington led off the bottom of the third with another bunt but German popped up to third for the first out. Callahan hit a grounder up the middle and reached second, advancing Covington to third. Grimsley flew out but scored Covington, and Da’Kerhia Samuel hit to center to score Callahan and reach second. Price singled to pick up Samuel, but Bailey flew out to end the inning with Dillon up 5-1 after three.
German struck out Lowery in the top of the fourth, Demeka Townsend hit a grounder and was thrown out at first, and Krest struck out to end the inning quickly for the Eagles. Dillon led off with a fly to right from Smiling. The ball was bobbled, allowing her to reach third. Shar’Asia Samuel lined one out to center, but Covington bunted to the pitcher to arrive safely at first and score Smiling. German hit a grounder to second where Covington was put out, but German reached first safely with Taylor Blackmon acting as a courtesy runner. Callahan was hit by a pitch from Lowery, but Grimsley hit a high fly to center to end the inning with two runners left on base and the Wildcats up 6-1.
Central’s Tyson led off the fifth with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball, and Funderburk reached on a walk, and German walked Brown to load the bases. Seegars flew out to score Tyson, and Belk walked to load the bases again. Mann popped up to second where Covington made the catch for the second out. and German struck out Lowery to end the threat with three runners left on base and Central trailing 6-2.
Lowery struck out Samuel in the bottom of the fifth, and Price flew out to left for the second out. Bailey hit a grounder to third and arrived safely at first on an error with Tori Grimsley as courtesy runner. Grimsley advanced to second on Smiling’s at bat, but Smiling struck out to end the inning.
Central’s Townsend led off the sixth with a single with Stephany Pena acting as courtesy runner. Belk hit a grounder to second that got Pena out, but Belk stole second on Tyson’s turn at bat. Tyson struck out, and Belk advanced to third with Funderburk at bat. Funderburk hit a long one to left for the third out to leave Belk stranded at third. Shar’Asia Samuel struck out in the bottom of the sixth; Covington lined one to the left for out two; and German flew out to end the inning.
German struck out Brown in the top of the seventh, but Seegars hit a grounder into the gap between first and second. Belk walked, but the last batter lined one out to center and Dillon doubled up on the runner at second to end the game at 6-2.
German pitched the complete game for Dillon, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out six and walking seven in the win. Lowery took the loss, giving up six hits with six unearned runs and six outs.
Dillon improved to 23-6 with the win. The Lady Wildcats have faced elimination throughout most of the playoffs, but just needed one more win on Wednesday night in Central to claim their first state championship title.
Dillon Coach Shirl Carter credited her core group of five seniors and two juniors for their hard work and dedication, and Covington added that the senior Wildcats wanted to go out on a high note.
Photos by Johnnie Daniels/THE DILLON HERALD. Click the images below to view at full size!
