Lewisburg Banking Co. must have had inside information when it honored softball player Abby Hinton as Logan County High School’s Female Athlete of the Month along side Male Athlete Parker White.
Hinton lived up to the title by driving in Hailey Collins with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning of the 13th District Softball Tournament at LCHS.
Coach Mark Woods’ team went into the final inning trailing Franklin-Simpson 4-3, but the potent combination of Brea Croslin and Kennedy Nichols erased that deficit quickly when Croslin doubled and Nichols doubled her in with the tying run. Collins came on as a courtesy runner for Nichols, and raced home when Hinton drove the ball to centerfield for the walk-off victory.
“What a way to finish the district tournament. We are super proud of how the girls never quit and clawed and scratched their way to a come from behind win,” says Assistant Coach Michael Crawford.
It was Hinton’s second hit of the game. In fact, it was the second hit for Croslin and Nichols, too. Both of Croslin’s were doubles. She scored twice.
KJ Page also had two hits while Emerson McKinnis and Lilly Newman both singled. Page and McKinnis also scored.
Freshman Shelby Gettings got the win in relief. She worked four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out five Lady Cats. Sydney Lee was the Lady Cougar starter. She pitched the first three innings and also allowed two runs on four hits. She walked one and fanned two.
Also playing in the championship game were Pressley Harris and Maddix Mowles.
Regional Softball Player of the Year Madison Davis, who had pitched Franklin to a win over Russellville the night before, pitched the entire game for the Lady Cats. She gave up five runs on 10 hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. On offense, Davis—whose parents are graduates of LCHS—had three hits and scored two runs.
Kaeliegh Tuck had three each of hits and RBIS for Franklin. Those hits were a home run and two doubles. She also walked. The only other two hits were by senior Danielle Coats.
The Lady Cougars will take a 24-6 record into Monday’s regional tournament opener. They have won 17 of their last 21 games. Franklin is now 19-17.