After a game 1 in which Newton County coach Justin Chaney felt his team “stole” a win, the Lady Cougars left no doubt in game 2.
The Lady Cougars scored five runs in the first inning and raced out to an 8-0 lead and went on to take an 8-4 win to give Newton County the Class 4A state championship
With the win, the Lady Cougars finish the season with a 29-7 record and win their 10th state championship in fast-pitch and their first since 2014.
The Lady Cougars scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Landree Amis led off with a walk and Katelyn Gipson was then hit by a pitch. Shelby Anderson then singled to right field to score Amis. Brittany Thomas followed with a single to left that scored Gipson. After a Lizzy Hollingsworth sacrifice fly to center field to score Anderson, Lanie Phillips laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored courtesy runner Brelie Phillips. Lorren Ivey and Karyle Tolbird then reached on back-to-back and Ivey came home on a double steal to give Newton County a 5-0 lead.
The Lady Cougars added two more runs in the bottom of the third as Thomas led off the inning with a single. After two outs, Ivey doubled to left field to score Brelie Phillips, who was courtesy running. Tolbird then reached on an error and Ivey scored to give County a 7-0 lead.
The Lady Cougars scored one in the fourth as Amis led off the inning with a single and Anderson followed with a walk. Hollingsworth then singled to left field to score Amis and give County an 8-0 lead.
Tishomingo added two runs in the sixth and seventh innings but it was too little, too late as the Lady Cougars held on two sweep the series.
Thomas continued her strong post-season pitching performance for the Lady Cougars. Thomas pitched all seven innings for the Lady Cougars and gave up four runs on six his and one walk while striking out one.
County had eight hits in the contest as Ivey was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Thomas was 2-for-3 as well while Brelie Phillips scored twice. Hollingsworth singled and had two RBIs while Amis singled and scored twice. Alex Weir also had a double for the Lady Cougars.
