From Special Reports
AMORY — “All things are possible with God.”
That mind-set helped carry the Caledonia High School fast-pitch softball team to a victory against Leake Central in its regular-season finale and a spot in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A State tournament.
The victory gave the Lady Confederates a chance to “tear the roof off” for at least two more games this season.
Turns out, Caledonia doesn’t mind going all of the way in a best-of-three series to show how much it believes and how that belief can help it raise a roof.
Stephanie Wilkes’ groundout scored Nicole Kifer to cap a five-run rally in the top of the seventh inning Friday night to lift Caledonia to a 10-9 victory against Amory in the deciding game of their best-of-three playoff series.
With the win, Caledonia (13-7) advances to play host to Cleveland at 6 p.m. Monday in Game 1 of its next best-of-three playoff series.
“I couldn’t have been prouder of the kids,” Caledonia coach Robin Elmore said. “I am so proud of the composure of the kids.
“My seniors have just been incredible. Their leadership, I can’t put a price on it. They don’t get down and they keep believing.”
Trailing 9-5 in the seventh, Hope Harbin, Cassie Obman, Hope Burton, Lauren Duckworth, and Nicole Kifer singled to tie the game. Elmore said all of the hits were solid. Coupled with aggressive baserunning, Kifer reached third to set the stage for Wilkes, who plated the game-winning run with a groundball to second base.
The comeback helped Caledonia realize even the unlikeliest rally is possible if you believe.
“I looked at my assistant coach (when the team was trailing 9-5) and said, ‘We need a miracle,’ ” Elmore said. “Just like tearing the roof off, we have been telling the kids all year if you can believe with God all things are possible.”
That verse is from Mark 10:27. Rallying behind Bible verses used by Elmore has become second nature for the Lady Confederates. Elmore has used Mark 2:4 all season to help bring her players together to support one another. The verse tells the story of men who lifted the roof off a house to get a paralyzed man to see Jesus.
Caledonia epitomized the teamwork reflected in that verse in the victory against Leake Central, as freshman Hope Harbin’s grand slam helped the team rally.
That same camaraderie and belief was on display in two games Friday. Caledonia opened the day with a 10-0 victory against Amory to force a deciding game. Elmore said the Lady Confederates were “lights out” in the opener. In fact, she called the game “awesome” and one of the best she has seen a Caledonia team play.
In Game 1, Gracie McCleskey had a single and a double, Harbin had a single, double, and three RBIs, Obman had a single, double, and two RBIs, Burton had a triple and an RBI, Duckworth had two singles and an RBI, Kifer had an RBI, Wilkes had a sacrifice and an RBI, and Alex Burns had a single. Burton was the winning pitcher. She allowed only three hits. She walked three and struck out three.
“I told them they just had to stay focused in between games,” Elmore said.
Amory didn’t give Caledonia any chance to savor its victory in Game 2. It scored four runs in the bottom of the first, which again challenged Caledonia’s resolve. The Lady Confederates responded by scoring four runs in the top of the second. Wilkes, Burns, and Makayla Taylor all reached base and scored on a triple by McCleskey. McCleskey then scored on an error to tie the game.
Amory slowly extended its lead against Burton, who started, and was relieved by seventh-grader Carlee Dale. Dale worked out of a jam in the second inning to help keep Amory’s lead at 6-4. The lead grew to 9-5 before Amory tried to put the game away. But Elmore said she looked Burton in the eyes and asked her if she wanted the ball. The bases were loaded with one out, so the Lady Confederates couldn’t afford to allow any more runs.
Burton proved she wanted the ball by working out of the jam without allowing any more runs.
“Going to the top of the seventh, I told them don’t look at the scoreboard because all we need is baserunners,” Elmore said. “I told them, ‘I don’t care how you get on because we just need baserunners.'”
The Lady Confederates must have heard Elmore because their five-run uprising in the seventh showed all things are possible with God.
“They played their hearts out, even our young kids,” Elmore said. “It was the most exciting thing. Everybody played a part. They never stopped believing. I have never seen kids and parents so unified.”
In Game 2, McCleskey had a single, triple, and four RBIs, Harbin, Kifer, and Wilkes had singles, Obman had three singles, Burton had two singles, a sacrifice, and two RBIs, and Buns had two singles. Burton earned the victory in relief. She had two strikeouts. Dale also had two strikeouts.
n Hamilton 9, Wheeler 0: At Hamilton, the Lady Lions advanced in the MHSAA Class 1A playoffs by sweeping their play-in series.
Hamilton will play host to Ingomar Monday to start the best-of-three first-round series. The teams then play Tuesday in Ingomar.
n Gernantown 8, West Point 2: At Madison, the Green Wave saw its season end with this loss in the play-in round of the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs.
n New Hope times set: By winning a region title, the Lady Trojans earned a play-in round bye.
New Hope will play at Vicksburg at 4 p.m. Monday to start its best-of-three first-round playoff series. The teams then play two games (if both are needed) Tuesday at New Hope, starting at 4 p.m.
Friday night, New Hope dropped a 9-4 decision to Nanih Waiya to end its regular season.
Brittni Beard had two hits and two RBIs in the Lady Trojans’ warmup for the Class 5A State tournament next week.
Beard strck out five in six innings in taking the loss.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.