Thanks to Tuesday’s weather delay, the White County High School softball team had plenty of work to do Thursday night. After finishing off Cumberland County in the evening’s first matchup, the Warriorettes barely had time to catch their breath before heading right back onto the dirt to face the Upperman Lady Bees.

While the opener turned into a runaway, the second game delivered every bit of postseason drama imaginable. White County dug itself out of a 6-1 hole and battled all the way back to tie the game in the fifth inning. Then, just a half-inning later, the Warriorettes found themselves trailing by three once again.

But they weren’t ready for the season to end. Two runs in the bottom of the sixth pulled White County back within striking distance before the defense slammed the door in the top of the seventh to set the stage for a storybook finish. When the dust settled, the Warriorettes had completed the comeback with an 11-9 walkoff win over Upperman.

Kylie Norvell delivered the moment everyone inside the ballpark will remember. The senior blasted two home runs during the game and then stepped into the batter’s box in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and the season hanging in the balance. Norvell ripped a double into right field, clearing the bases and turning a 9-8 deficit into an 11-9 Warriorettes victory.

Upperman wasted little time getting on the board. The Lady Bees used three first-inning hits to grab a 1-0 lead before Norvell answered immediately in the bottom half with a solo home run to even the score.

The Lady Bees broke things open in the second inning. After a pair of runners reached base, a fly ball dropped in and an error during the play allowed three runs to cross the plate, stretching the Upperman advantage to 4-1.

Upperman added two more runs in the third inning with a triple, several hard-hit balls, and aggressive baserunning to build what looked like a comfortable 6-1 lead. White County, however, slowly began chipping away. Kylie Norvell tripled in the bottom of the third before Anna McCulley drove her home with an RBI single. Later in the inning, Addison Howell lined a double into right field to score another run and trim the deficit to 6-3.

After a scoreless fourth inning from both sides, the Warriorettes finally delivered the breakthrough they had been searching for in the fifth. McCulley and Callie Phillips opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Howell crushed a triple to center field that scored two runs. Moments later, Annie Burrier brought Howell home with a ground ball to tie the game at 6-6 and completely shift the momentum back toward White County.

The momentum swing didn’t last long. Upperman answered in the top of the sixth with a string of hits and a ground ball that plated three runs, putting the Lady Bees back in front 9-6 and leaving White County down to its final outs.

Once again, the Warriorettes refused to fold. Addison Norvell singled to begin the bottom of the sixth before Kylie Norvell launched her second home run of the night over the right field fence to cut the deficit to one run. White County continued to pressure Upperman with more traffic on the bases, but the inning ended with the Warriorettes still trailing 9-8.

The defense made sure there would be one more chance. White County picked off a runner at first base and then turned a double play to erase the remaining Upperman threat in the top of the seventh, sending the game into the bottom half with the season still alive.

AK Wallace opened the seventh with a single, but her courtesy runner was caught trying to steal second before Miah Jo Swindell added another hit. Abbi Hutson worked a walk and Addison Norvell was hit by a pitch to load the bases. That brought Kylie Norvell back to the plate. On the first pitch she saw, the senior lined a shot into right field that scored all three runners and sent the White County dugout pouring onto the field in celebration.

Annie Burrier pitched the first three innings, allowing six runs — three earned — on eight hits and two walks. Mabry Taylor came on in relief and picked up the win after working the final four innings. Taylor gave up three runs on six hits while helping the Warriorettes stay within striking distance long enough for the offense to complete the comeback.

The Warriorettes now move into the district semifinal where they face Livingston Academy tonight at 5 p.m. in another win-or-go-home matchup. The winner advances to face district top seed Stone Memorial in the championship game.

WHITE COUNTY BOX SCORE 

HITS: Kylie Norvell 4, Anna McCulley 3, Addison Howell 3, AK Wallace 2, Miah Jo Swindell 2, Addison Norvell 1, Callie Phillips 1 
RUNS: Kylie Norvell 3, Addison Norvell 2, Anna McCulley 1, Addison Howell 1, Miah Jo Swindell 1, Abbi Hutson 1 
RBI: Kylie Norvell 6.  Addison Howell 3, Anna McCulley 1, Annie Burrier 1 
2B: Addison Howell, Kylie Norvell 
3B: Addison Howell, Kylie Norvell 
HR: Kylie Norvell 2 
TB: Kylie Norvell 13, Addison Howell 6, Anna McCulley 3, AK Wallace 2, Miah Jo Swindell 2, Addison Norvell 1, Callie Phillips 1 
HBP: Addison Norvell 

The Main Street Journal – Sparta’s Spring Sports Coverage is brought to you by Sparta Heating & Air Conditioning. 

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