Whitimire scores on walk-off strikeout in bottom of seventh to beat Lewsville 2-1 and win Class A softball upper state title
Wolverines begin play in first ever state championship series on Tuesday at Hannah-Pamplico at 6 p.m.
Whitmire Scores On “Walk-off Strikeout” To Defeat Lewisville 2-1 & Win Class A Upper State Title, Wolverines Play at Hannah=Pamplico On Tuesday At 6 P.M.
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Whitmire---It is extremely rare for a team to win on a “walk-off strikeout” but that is exactly what happened in Whitmire High School’s dramatic 2-1 win over Lewisville on Monday at the WHS field to give the Wolverines the Class A upper state title.
Whitmire advances to its first ever Class A state championship series. The best-of-3 series begins on Tuesday with the Wolverines taking a 23-5 record on the road to face lower state champion Hannah-Pamplico beginning at 6 p.m.
“I ain’t lying, we had a wild scene after the game with our players and fans,” said Whitmire head coach Andrew Campbell, who is also the school’s football head coach. “To win on a walk-off strikeout is really rare in softball, but we did it. The grit and determination in our players really showed out tonight.
“I am supper proud of the entire team, and this is the first time in school history that we will be playing for a softball championship. I am very proud of our junior pitcher Kenleigh Epps, who pitched all seven innings with around six strikeouts.”
Lewisville had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Kyleigh Fletcher reached on a hit by pitch and scored on a double by Gabby McIntyre.
In the bottom of the seventh, Whitmire sophomore Alleigh Corley drew a walk. Lewisville changed pitchers (Abby Barnes had been the starting pitcher). The next Whitmire batter, Chloe Hix, drew a walk and both runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch.
Brielle Whitmire then laid down a bunt and Lewisville held the ball to prevent a run from scoring. The bases were now loaded with one out. Sophomore Kinsley Hood then hit a sacrifice fly that scored Corley to tie the game at 1-1.
Now the drama began.
No. 9 hitter Holly Robertson came to bat with runners at second and third with two-outs. She swung at Strike 3, but the ball got away from the catcher. Hix got a good jump from third base and Lewisville elected to throw to the plate to try and get her out instead of throwing to first. Hix was safe at home plate on a close play that lifted Whitmire to a 2-1 walk-off win.
Lewisville head coach Jerry Thomas argued the ball was foul-tipped, on the third strike to Robertson, but the umpire did not agree with him.
The Whitmire fans celebrated their second win over Lewisville (won 4-3 on May,19) in the playoffs. Lewisville, which finished 25-7, won both games during the regular season against Whitmire by scores of 2-0 and 13-0.
