Lady Indians Win 2021 State Championship

After two quick outs in the top half of the first extra inning, it appeared as if the Lady Indians were going to need a second extra inning if they were going to come away with its sixth state title. Eight pitches later, the Lady Indians found themselves with runners at first and second after two consecutive walks put a runner in scoring position and brought Natalie Kopicova to the plate.

Kopicova worked the count full then hit a ground ball up the middle to score Kinzie Nelson and put the Lady Indians up 4-3. Leigha Kirby worked a perfect bottom half of the inning to send the Lady Indians back to the NJCAA National Tournament to defend their 2019 title after missing that opportunity in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the Lady Indians went down quietly in the first inning, the Pioneers from Indian River took an early 1-0 lead with one out in their half of the first on a single with bases loaded. Starter and Tournament MVP, Zayla McBurrows, struck out the next Indian River batter and then ended the threat with a flyball to centerfield.

The resilient Lady Indians answered immediately in the second inning. Kinzie Nelson led off the inning with her second home run of the weekend. With one out, Natalie Kopicova drew a walk and stole second to get into scoring position for Sierra Jevyak. Jevyak hit a line drive single in to right centerfield just over the head of the Pioneer second baseman to bring in Kopicova and give Chipola the 2-1 lead.

The Lady Indians weren't finished in the second as Marley Sims singled and Madisyn Riggins walked to load the bases. Pinch hitter, Tammie Lijbers, hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield to plate Sims and put the Lady Indians up 3-1.

Indian River was able to cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the second. Shayne Hewitt reached on a lead-off walk, stole second, and moved to third on a ground ball out to short stop. Batting for herself at the top of the lineup, Pioneer pitcher, Jaden Williamson, also grounded out to short stop for the second out but Hewitt was able to score on the play to bring the Pioneers to within one, 3-2.

The score remained 3-2 until the Pionners' half of the fifth inning. Back to back lead off walks and a single by Maeghan Branche tied the score as Daija Torche came around to score. The Pioneers moved up to second and third on the throw to the plate to give Indian River two runners in scoring position with no outs. 

Panhandle Conference Pitcher of the Year, Leigha Kirby, who came on in relief in the fourth, struck the next two Indian River batters out before a line drive to short stop Marley Sims ended the threat.

The Lady Indians would withstand another threat from the Pioneers in the bottom of the seventh. Needing a run to win the game, the Pioneers put a run in scoring postion after Daija Torchia singled and moved to second on a sac bunt with one out. The Pioneers would go on to hit two hard ground balls to third that Saturday's hero, Gabby Bess, snagged and threw on to first to send the game into extra innings.

Leigha Kirby was the winning pitcher for Chipola throwing five innings in relief of starter, Zayla McBurrows. Kirby allowed only one run on two hits and struck out three to mover her record to 7-4 on the season.

The Lady Indians will make their sixth consecutive appearance at the NJCAA National Tournament and seventh in the last eight tournaments. This will be the ninth appearance for Head Coach Belinda Hendrix. The quest for the fourth National Title will take place in Yuma, Arizona, on May 25-29.