Holden celebrates a walk-off win against Converse Friday during the 2016 Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Softball Fast Pitch 56 Class B State Tournament.
SULPHUR -- Holden’s win over Converse came down to one run -- and a stunning pitching performance -- in Class B quarterfinal action Friday at the LHSAA Fast Pitch 56 Softball Tournament.
Eighth-grade ace Olivia Lackie pitched a no-hitter and struck out 18 batters in 8 innings for a 1-0 victory over Converse.
Holden meets Oak Hill at 11 a.m. in the state semifinals.
The Lady Rockets (29-3) broke the stalemate in the bottom of the 8th inning when Ashley Fogg’s ground-ball double to left field drove home Brianna Reason for the victory. Reason nailed a grounder to shortstop, but a throw over the head of the first baseman paved the way for her to reach second.
Lackie struck out two of three batters in the top of the 7th to keep Converse scoreless. A Madison Knight ground-out to first stranded Kyleigh George to send the game into extra innings.
The 13-year-old pitcher sent back two of three Converse batters in the 6th and all three in the 5th. She also tallied two strikeouts each in the 1st and 3rd frames.
“Olivia is incredible, and we’ll have her for four more years after this,” Lady Rockets’ coach David Knight said. “She works hard and goes through a lot of pitching lessons, and she’s definitely a hard-working kid who deserves a lot of success.”
Lackie does not have any special secrets behind her success.
“Hard work … that’s about it,” she said. “I just had to get the right mindset before I got out here and I knew that if I did that, we would win. But I’ll admit … I’m pretty beat.”
Holden posted the first hit of the game in the bottom of the 5th when eighth-grader Emma Hutchinson fired a line-drive single between third base and shortstop. Knight’s single to right center put Lady Rocket runners at first and second, and the two advanced on a double steal, but Converse pitcher LeeAnn Sessum struck out Kelsey Overlund to thwart Holden.
Lackie struck out two of three Converse batters in the top of the 8th to set up the victory.
“That’s the least hit we’ve had all season, but we just never could get on their pitching … we couldn’t get bunts to work or anything else,” Converse coach Bucky Yates said. “Olivia is an outstanding pitcher, and I have no doubt she’ll be playing for a major college team down the line … she’s just that good.”
Converse ended its season 24-6.
CLASS B STATE QUARTERFINALS
Converse 000 000 000 -- 0 0 3
Holden 000 000 001 -- 1 4 0
W -- Olivia Lackie. L -- Megan Sistrunk. 2B: Holden – Ashley Fogg
