Lady Tigers upset First Presbyterian Day school to advance in State softball playoffs
By Alan Parish - FF/S
After qualifying for the State tournament for the first time in the school’s history, the Lady Tiger softball team did not let that opportunity pass them by. As the 13-seed they had to travel to Macon to play number 4 seed First Presbyterian Day, and split a double header on a wild first day of play.
Darlington lost the first game of the series 1-0 and then had an incredible, emotional, extra-inning 11-10 victory in game 2. That set up the third and deciding game today. (Click here to read a Rome News-Tribune article about the first two games.)
The Lady Tigers were ready and won the deciding game 7-2. Emily Swafford pitched a complete game to get the win, and added two hits and an RBI.
Emily Thurmond led the offense two doubles and 2 RBI’s. Arden Babb had two hits and an RBI, and Kayla Riley also had a double.
Two years ago the Lady Tigers were winless, and now they advance to the Elite-8. They bring their 17-15 overall record against the winner of the Pace-Pacelli series. The remaining eight teams in Class-A Private continue tournament play on October 25 in Columbus.
Senior Taylor Sullins had this to say, "It's an amazing feeling going from my freshman year and not winning a single game, to my senior year and going to the Elite 8 State Playoffs! It truly means a lot to me and I have never been more proud of this team than I am right now It's what we have been working for and all our training and hard work is paying off."
Click here to read a Rome News-Tribune article about the third game win.
