Local Softball Teams Fall in Their 1A State Semifinals

Published: May. 24, 2024 at 4:00 PM CDT

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -Both Holmes and Liberty are packing up the buses and heading back home after disappointing losses Friday in their respective softball 1A State Semifinal games.

Holmes, taking on Trenton in the first semifinal game, ran into a buzzsaw in Tigers ace Addison Allaire, who struck out the first nine hitters she faced. Trenton meanwhile able to notch a run in the bottom of the first against Bri Adams after two singles, a hit batsman and a wild pitch.

Eventually Holmes would break through with two runs in the top of the fourth, with Adams knocking home both runs with a double to left center.

The Tigers though would come back with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, and then would walk it off with a run with a one-out hit in the bottom of the 7th, winning the game 3-2. The Blue Devils seeing their season end with a 16-14 record.

“I’m really proud they never gave up.” Holmes head coach Sydney Revels told us shortly after the game. “Like regardless of what was happening throughout the game they had no quit. They kept going, they kept fighting, every inning we tried to get back in there. I think this next year we have a goal set for next year. So I’m thinking the younger girls will know what it’s like to experience being here. And know what to expect when they come next year.”

As for the Liberty, the defending 1A state champs, they gave up two runs against Branford in the bottom of the first, and then five more in the bottom of the second. The Bulldogs would scratch back with two runs in the top of the third and another in the top of the fourth. But another five run rally by the Buccaneers in the bottom of the fourth would basically put that game away. It ended 13-3 in six innings. So Liberty ends its season with a 20-7 record.

”Today just wasn’t our day.” Liberty head coach Jennifer Sewell said afterwards. “We didn’t get some crucial hits, had a lead off double, wasn’t able to capitalize. Just balls finding a little holes here and there, and today wasn’t our day today. But, I’d much rather end our high school season here, then on our home field in a regional finals, being one of the final four teams. You know, not many kids get to make it to the final four, let alone, this senior class made it three out of the four years and they have a State title to show for that. They make me look good, make us coaches look good. I may get emotional, it’s a very special group.”