By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          The game started a little more than an hour after the scheduled time, but that only delayed what seemed to be inevitable:

          A Westfield state championship win.

          The Hornets finished a perfect season in perfect fashion by answering Tattnall and then shutting the door in the final innings to put the icing on a 29-0 season and their sixth straight GISA/GIAA title with a 6-5 win Saturday afternoon.

          Tattnall finished 33-7, going 0-4 against Westfield, with three one-run losses, including on Friday afternoon, 5-4.

          The teams traded two-run first innings, and then the Hornets put up two in the second with two outs, Carleigh Knowles following singles from Kendall Fowler and Madison Hammock with a two-run hit.

          But the Trojans hardly flinched, answering in a big way in the third.

          Gradie Appling and Olivia Bridger walked, and then Caroline Patterson drove a 3-1 pitch over the wall in center for a three-run bomb and a 5-4 lead. It could have been more, the runs coming with no outs, but pitcher Sydney Langdon got out of it with two outs, a single, and the third out.

          Westfield stranded two in the bottom of the third, but tied it in the fourth on singles from Hammock and Knowles, then a fielder’s choice grounder that eliminated the lead runner at third but was followed a run-scoring single from Langdon.

          Kate Hardy then put the Hornets back in front with a single left.

          Langdon settled in and allowed a fifth inning single and sixth inning walk, and then sweated out a two-out Patterson double to center in the top of the seventh. But she shut the door with a game-ending five-pitch strikeout.

          Patterson went 3 for 4 with three RBI to lead the Trojans, Appling and Bridger scoring twice and Isabelle Pecorilli adding two RBI.

          Pecorilli got the start and went four, followed by Lindsey Paul.

          Hammack had a 3-for-4 day for the Hornets, scoring twice. Knowles added two hits and three RBI, Hardy two more RBI.

          Langdon went the distance, grinding through a 121-pitch performance with 10 strikeouts and four walks, allowing six hits.

Tattnall 6, Strong Rock 2

          The Trojans advanced to the championship game after storming out to a 5-0 lead after one and holding Strong Rock scoreless until the seventh. Isabelle Pecorilli had two of Tattnall’s eight hits, the Trojans getting balance. Caroline Patterson drove in two runs. Pecorilli went 6.1 innings for the win, with five hits, two runs, two strikeouts and two walks. Lindsey Paul finished it off as Tattnall improved to 32-6.

Class AA

Piedmont 8, Briarwood 5, championship

          A pitchers duel became a batter’s afternoon in the middle of the game, but Piedmont had more offense and then just enough pitching and defense to hold off Briarwood and win the Class AA state title in Columbus.

          The Cougars broke off five runs in the fourth to take some control. Two walks were followed by two outs before Abby Arnold drove in two runs with a single to center. Another run came in on an outfield error that brought in a run and put two runners on. Then Breck Piedra cleared the bases with a triple to right for a 6-1 lead.

          Briarwood got four back in the fifth on two walks, three singles, a fielder’s choice, and error. That made it a 6-5 game.

          Marissa Holder belted a one-out homer to center in the fifth. Piedra drove a one-out double in the sxith, and came in an out later on Emily McEwen’s single to right.

          Whitwell went all seven, gutting out 123 pitches en route to six strikeouts, four walks, and four hits.

          Whitwell, Piedra, and Kylee Keck had two hits each for Piedmont, Piedra and Arnold driving in two runs each.

          Piedmont finishes 23-2.