Byrnes wins title game in nine innings
Kaylee Hannon had the pitching win for Byrnes on May 31.
By Roger Lee
Contributing Writer
White Knoll – Byrnes edged Summerville 5-4 in extra innings May 31 to capture the 2025 5A, Division 1 Softball Championship.
The teams split the first two games of a super tight best-of-three series so the action moved to a neutral field with both teams knowing they were only a win away from ending the season as a state champion. Summerville was the two-time defending state champion, but Byrnes had also been in such situations having previously claimed five other state titles.
“I’m proud of our fight and how hard we have worked,” said Byrnes coach Brandi Aiken. “We always think we are pretty good but if you had seen us in February or March I’m not sure we would have thought we would be here. I’m super happy for my seniors who have talked about this for two years now, since the last time we lost it.”
The last time Byrnes lost in the finals was in 2023 when Summerville defeated the Rebels in two straight games to capture the Green Wave’s first state softball championship.
This year, Summerville (33-2) won the first game of the series 3-0. Byrnes (30-4) fell behind early during both of the other games, but found a way to rally and hand the Green Wave its only losses of the season. Both losses came by a single run.
“Our last two ball games were tough,” said Summerville coach Heather Tucker. “It hurts for sure. We scored two runs on them today in the ninth so it was pretty big of Byrnes to answer in the bottom of the frame.”
Tiebreaker rules kicked in for the top of the ninth so the inning began with Daphne Frady on second base. Leadoff batter Katie Guilliam hit a sacrifice fly to move the runner to third and pitcher Ansley Bennett drove her in with another sacrifice fly.
Melanie Edwards got a base hit to advance Bennett. Maeven Moreno drove in Bennett and reached on an error. Byrnes got the next batter to pop up so Summerville entered the bottom of the ninth leading 4-2 and only three outs away from the prize.
However, the Rebels weren’t done.
Brooklyn Amble was on second for the start of the bottom of the frame. Garrison Aiken and Kara Davis both walked to load the bases with no outs. Ellanie Yarrell stepped to the plate and drove in Amble with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to a single run.
Addy Waters, who had a lot of success at the plate during the series, then hit a grounder that a Summerville infielder didn’t field cleanly. Both pinch runner Addie Durrah and Davis scored to end the game as well as the series.
The bats for both teams were cracking the entire game but both defenses limited the damage, especially early on. Summerville had 12 hits and left 11 runners stranded. Byrnes had nine hits and left nine runners stranded.
“Early in the game we were hitting the ball, but on a line to people,” coach Aiken said. “We had some hard shots, but they were making the plays. There were also innings where Summerville would put runners on but we made some big plays to avoid runs. Eventually we did break through. Toward the end our opportunities either came up at the right part of our lineup or the bottom of the lineup did the things we needed to give the top another opportunity.”
Summerville opened the scoring in the third. Frady hit a ball into the outfield and advanced to third with the help of a Byrnes error. Guilliam then drove her in with a hit for a 1-0 Summerville lead.
Catcher Abby Driscoll opened the next inning with a double. She then scored on a single by Jayden Bennett. The 2-0 lead held until the bottom of the sixth.
Watters and pitcher Kaylee Hannon got Byrnes started with back-to-back singles. Memorie Melton then drove in Waters. Haven Holmes hit the Rebels’ fourth consecutive single to plate Maddie Taylor for a 2-2 score.
Ansley Bennett, Driscoll and Edwards are the only three seniors on this year’s Summerville team.
“They have helped us accomplish some major things and get over some milestones we had never been able to get over,” Tucker said. “We wanted them to end this a different way, but they helped us win our first state championship two years ago and then win another one last year. Today we just came up a little short. We’re proud of our kids, but not happy with the outcome right now.”
Byrnes seniors Alyssa Wright, Maddie Wiant, Amble, Yarrell, Davis and Hannon had the happier ending.
The Rebels now have six state championships under their belt. Aiken has led the team into the finals 12 times and to a state championship five times.
