To claim its first-ever South State Championship Monday, the Columbia Academy Lady Cougars railroaded their competition throughout the tournament at The Yards, winning all four games a combined 40-9, including Amite School Center 10-3 in the title game.
The Lady Cougars (20-10-1) went into the South State Tournament confident after beating most of the teams in the field at least once during the regular season, but nobody could have predicted how dominant they would be during the two-day affair.
Head coach Kyle Wilks said winning the tournament is a great feeling, especially because it’s the first South State title in program history.
“I'm super proud of them,” Wilks said after being drenched in ice water. “We finally put it together for a couple of games and did what I felt like we were capable of all year. This groups, we've been doing it a while, and it's it finally come together. It’s a really special, special group.”
CA got the tournament started Saturday morning with seven runs in the first inning, one in the second and three more in the third in a 13-3 win over Central Hinds Academy. Molly Sistrunk and Macie Wilks each tripled, had three hits and 2 RBI to pace the offense — Wilks’ other two hits were doubles. Lola Todd doubled, singled, drove in two runs and scored three times.
Macey Branch earned the win with two shutout innings with two strikeouts, while Todd threw three innings in relief and Carlee Pounds closed the door with three strikeouts in two shutout innings.
All nine starters had base hits for CA in Saturday’s nightcap as the Lady Cougars outlasted ASC 6-2. Branch, who drove in two runs with a double, went the distance in the circle, allowing just one earned run across seven innings.
To advance to the title game, the Lady Cougars’ offense dominated Bowling Green from the first inning on, pounding 12 extra-base hits, including 10 doubles, to lead CA to an 11-1 victory. Taylor Berard (three runs scored) and Branch (RBI) led the way with three hits each, while Todd (2 RBI), Kate Fortenberry (3 RBI), Sistrunk (RBI), Macie Wilks (2 RBI) and Brooklyn Ladd (RBI) had two hits apiece. Branch went the distance in the circle again, firing six one-run innings.
The championship showdown with ASC was the most competitive game of the tournament for CA despite the lopsided final score. The Lady Cougars led by just two runs, 5-3, going into the bottom of the sixth inning when they exploded four five runs to pull away.
Branch doubled, singled twice and drove in three runs, Sistrunk plated two runs with a double and a single, Berard and Macie Wilks both tripled and drove in a run and Carlee Pounds plated a run with a pair of singles.
Todd was superb in the circle, allowing just one earned run across five innings, and Branch closed the door with two shutout innings.
“Macey's been doing this since she was 11, and it's good to finally get to this point,” coach Wilks said of CA’s pitching throughout the tournament. “But her and Lola have carried us all year, and they (did) a great job this weekend.”
Coach Wilks added that while it definitely hits a little different to win South State with his daughter, Macie, playing a big part in it alongside him, she’s not alone.
“I’ve got 14 daughters out here,” he said.
Next up for the Lady Cougars is the 3A State Tournament, which begins Saturday at the Magee Sports Complex. As the No. 1 seed from the South, the Lady Cougars automatically earned a bye in the winners’ bracket and will face North runner-up Tri-County Academy at noon. CA opened its season with Tri-County on July 25, winning 5-4.
With a win, the Lady Cougars would face either North State champ Marshall Academy or South runner-up ASC at 2 p.m. A win in that game sends them to the state championship series, which will be played Oct. 8, Oct. 9 and Oct. 11. They beat Marshall Academy 14-0 on Aug. 2.
