Holcomb softball executes late comeback for Tri-County Conference championship title

WARDELL – The first-seeded Holcomb Hornets softball team defeated second-seeded Risco 15-13 after a late comeback Tuesday to claim the Tri-County Conference championship title.

The Tigers clinched a resounding 11-0 lead at the end of the top of the third inning, but Holcomb slowly chipped away at their deficit over the following innings to claim the team's fifth-consecutive title.

“One thing that we have not done all year is we do not quit,” Holcomb coach Matt Casper said. “We know we're capable of scoring runs, the girls know that they can open it up at any time, and we took it one bat at a time.”

Ava Gurley, Chloe Hendrix and Ella Lemings all hit home runs in the latter half of the ballgame, and Holcomb went on to score their first four runs in the third inning. They followed it up with three in thee in the fourth, and seven in the fifth.

Holcomb's Chloe Hendrix moves to first base after a hit against Risco Tuesday.Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

With home runs by Ava Gurley, Chloe Hendrix and Ella Lemings, Holcomb went on to score their first four runs in the third inning. They followed it up with three in thee in the fourth, and seven in the fifth.

Hornet sophomore Chloe Hendrix hit a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth, which brought home Kaetlyn Danley, as well as Maleigh and Ella Lemings to tie the game and take a 14-13 lead.

With the imperative task of holding off Risco's own explosive offense in the top of the sixth, Ava Gurley and Maleigh Lemings both threw out runners at first, and Chloe Hendrix caught a line drive in the outfield to return to the offensive while working behind a freshman pitcher.

A strikeout, a ground out and a caught pop fly in the top of the seventh meant that Holcomb won the ballgame.

Freshman Ayla Lawrence was credited with the win in the circle for Holcomb. She relieved Ava Gurley for the final four innings and faced 21 batters. She threw 53 pitches and 30 strikes for two strikeouts while allowing just two walked batters and a single earned run on five hits.

“Ayla Lawrence came in as a freshman and did exactly what she was supposed to do,” Casper said. “She threw strikes and the defense played behind her. And that's a tough spot to be in for a freshman down in the game, then take it on her shoulders.”

Maleigh Lemings led the champions on offense with four runs with three RBIs on three hits.

Holcomb's Maleigh Lemings rounds third base during the Tri-County Conference championship against Risco Tuesday.Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

“We don't give up,” Lemings said. “We're never going to give up.”

“We're feeling really good, really excited,” she continued. “We're pumped. It's just about getting the team pumped up together and not letting them quick. Even when you're down that much, we can still chip away one at a time. There's no 11-run home run, but as long as we chip away each time it can be done.”

Ava Gurley and Kaetlyn Danley both contributed three runs. Ella Lemings added two, and Chloe Hendrix and Katelynn Sweaney both added one more. The Hornets connected on 12 total hits with 14 RBIs.

Risco's big start to the game helped push their numbers to nearly match Holcomb's. The Tigers managed 11 hits and 13 RBIs in total.

Ashlynn, Avery and Jaelynn Presley combined for eight of the Tigers' 13 runs. Aubrey White and Lydia Albritton both added two more. Carlie Stephens and Emma Elmore both added another.

Risco's Avery Presley is congratulated by teammates as she makes her way to home plate after a home run against Holcomb Tuesday.Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

Avery Presley also hit a home run in the top of the second inning to capitalize on the Tigers' early momentum.

“We hit up and down the lineup,” Risco coach Justin Earnheart said. “We had just about everyone up and down the lineup with hits. But it just wasn't enough. They've beaten us twice now in really close games. Hitting is contagious. We say that for us, too. They had a couple big ones, and that hurts. Those are the ones you can't defend.”

Stephens led in the circle for the first four innings. She faced 28 batters and threw 96 pitches for 45 strikes and two strikeouts. Stephens allowed six walked batters and 10 earned runs on six hits.

She was relieved by Jaelynn Presley for the final two innings. Facing 15 batters, she threw 71 pitches and 39 strikes and a strikeout while allowing five earned runs on six hits.

“That's a tough one,” Earnheart said. “It's a heart breaker being up that much and still losing it. They found a way to win it, and we didn't find a way to preserve it.”

The two teams, both in Class 1 District 1, will have a chance to face off once again this season in the upcoming district tournament which is scheduled to begin next Friday.

“This may be our fifth in a row, but it's something we don't take lightly,” Casper said. “We know that competition is good. There's usually two or three really good teams in a conference, and Risco was that this year. We've been fortunate to have a lot of talent come through to keep this thing rolling.”

“Great win, great job and hats off to Risco,” he continued. “It's going to be an interesting district tournament.”