Wicksburg Softball defeats Saint James in a thrilling extra-inning game to win back-to-back state titles.

Wicksburg dominated Class 2A the previous season. They made the ascent into 3A this year without any problems.

After the victory, head coach Josh Cox noted with pride, "When you have clutch kids, they show up in clutch moments." "And that is precisely what took place today."

A Walk-Off for the Ages in the Ninth Inning

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, senior Chloe Joyner hit a wonderfully positioned single down the first base line to win the game. The dugout roared as teammate Tylaya Lingo ran home. The hit cemented Joyner's place in Wicksburg softball history and guaranteed the championship.

While still gasping for air, Joyner remarked, "I just told myself, 'Get to first.'" "I knew we had it when I saw it slide over her glove."

However, that single was merely the cherry on top of a back-and-forth struggle between two dominant systems. Dahlia Ganz's game-tying two-RBI single in the eighth inning helped the Panthers fight their way back into the game and force extras.

Breaking the silence, Natalie Cole wins the MVP award at the tournament. Just as the game was about to end, Natalie Cole entered the circle. She ended the game with the calmness of a seasoned pitcher, giving up just two singles and striking out three in the final three innings.

"She has been amazing," Coach Cox remarked. "I believe she finished the season with a score of about 24-1." And my daughter, Ellie [Cox], went 23-3. Between them, they have nearly 50 victories. To win in a category like 3A, you need that sort of heart and depth.

The win confirmed Wicksburg's dominance even after moving up a classification and closed off an incredible 49-7 season in which they lost only four games.

Saint James Battles Until the Last Pitch

Saint James did not die quietly, to their credit. 
The Trojans' top hitter, Kaitlyn Hudson, went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Additionally, Emily Darby and Tatiana Shuford scored runs to give Saint James an early advantage.

Wicksburg, however, was unfazed.

Cox remarked, "We knew they would struggle with Nat again." "When you have a team full of seniors and young people who have experienced these significant times before, they know how to rise," she says.

An Emerging Dynasty?

Wicksburg's consecutive state wins felt more like the beginning of a dynasty than a coincidence, with seven seniors spearheading the effort and performing admirably under duress. In a game that requires nerves, subtlety, and a little bit of magic, this team not only prevailed, but they also outlasted, outthought, and out clutched their most formidable opponent.
"When it was most important, we just had girls step up," Cox remarked. "Coaching a team like that is your dream."