June 27, 2009 10:13 pm
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MOULTRIE — It took two games, but Colquitt County won the GRPA senior girls state championship on Saturday in Seminole County, giving the county its first-ever fast-pitch title.
Colquitt County went into Saturday’s noon championship game against Vidalia undefeated in the tournament.
But Vidalia took a 9-8, nine-inning victory that sent the two teams out again in the “if” game of the double-elimination tournament.
The second game was no contest.
Christy Harper pitched a five-inning shutout and Colquitt County won the title with an 8-0 victory.
Colquitt had defeated Vidalia 10-2 on Friday.
But Vidalia defeated Ware County 10-2 on Saturday morning to reach the championship game from the losers bracket
Colquitt County won its first two games of the tournament Thursday, defeating Jones County 15-0 and Wilkinson County 8-2.
The Lady Packers jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first game.
Brooke Hood led off with a slap bunt single and scored on a double by Meagan May.
Aubrey Anna Perryman followed with another double, scoring May.
Harper singled in Perryman and Jana Harvin doubled home Harper for the first of her six runs batted in in the two games.
Vidalia tied the game in the second and went ahead with a run in the top of the fifth.
The Lady Packers regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Perryman singled, Harper doubled and Harvin drove them both home with her second straight double.
Vidalia’s single run in the top of the sixth tied the game at 6-6 and there it stood until Vidalia tacked on another run in the top of the eighth.
Colquitt matched that in the bottom of the inning when Caitlin Carr singled in Kaley Clark, who had reached on a hit.
But when Vidalia scored two runs in the top of the ninth, Colquitt County was only able to get one in the bottom half, losing its first game of the tournament.
Both teams now had one loss in the tournament and the final game of the season would determine the state champion
Harper, who pitched all nine innings in temperatures that registered as high at 103 degrees, took the ball again in the final game against a Vidalia team that had won the state championship in 2008.
If she was affected by the heat, she didn’t show it.
Colquitt County got all the runs it would need in the top of the second and Harper started it by drawing a leadoff walk.
Clark also drew a base on balls and Harvin again came up with a big hit, singling to score Harper.
With two outs, Kaytlyne Jarvis drove in Clark with a base hit.
The Lady Packers added two more in the top of the third.
Perryman opened the inning with a double and scored on a single by Harper.
Later in the inning, Clark reached base, stole second and scored on a base hit by Harvin.
Colquitt put the game out of reach in the top of the fifth, scoring four times.
May and Perryman opened the inning with base hits and both scored on a double by Harper.
Harvin followed with a single to drive in her third run of the game and sixth of the day. Harvin scored the eight run on a sacrifice fly by Carr.
When Harper held Vidalia scoreless in the bottom of the inning, Colquitt County had a mercy-rule victory and a state title.
Colquitt County qualified for the state tournament by winning the District III tournament in Leesburg on June 18.
The Colquitt County team includes Anna Laura Beason, Brooke Hood, Kaytlyne Jarvis, Caitlin Carr, Kaley Clark, Aubrey Anna Perryman, Stephanie Blair, Jana Harvin, Christy Harper, Meagan May, Hannah Hancock and Jordan Taylor.
The coaches are Craig Perryman, Laurie Harper and Clif Taylor.
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