A district championship showdown at Shorecrest Prep would bring the SPC Lady Barons against the Admiral Farragut Lady Blue Jackets.

Although the Blue Jackets would hold the number one spot in 3A District 10, the Barons were able to hold off them off with a close 8-7 victory.

For SPC Coach Tom Fabian, the district win is a great milestone for the players this season; especially playing against admiral Farragut who had beaten them twice the whole season.

“We just told them that since they had practiced all these days to get ready for this game, they had to show that they were ready,” said Fabian. “When they first started this game, they went back to their old deal and approach. But then they realized the keys to winning this game and remembered what made them fall behind in the past.”

One of the main things that was vital to their success was trying to get past their starting pitcher, Corynn Miner.

“Corynn (Miner) is just a great pitcher. The only way that we could figure to win this game was to get the hits off her. Once they got the timing of her pitches they were able just to put the ball where it needed to be.”

The Barons would get the game going in the top of the first inning. After getting hit by a pitch, Anna Mixa would push past the bruise and bring in the first run.

But the Blue Jackets would answer back fast. After single line drives from Kyndal Olandar and Claudia Pizzarelli, Miner would step up to the plate and deliver a huge home run to deep center field bringing in three runs. Admiral Farragut would take the lead 3-1.

The score would remain unchanged until the top of the fourth inning when a sac bunt from Caroline Carpenter would bring in Allison Thomas for the Barons making it 4-1.

With bases loaded and one out, Allie Kowalczyk would single to right field bringing in Sarah Schleich. This would follow with a single to third with an error by at third base bringing in Angela LoRusso. Admiral Farragut would now hold a strong 5-2 lead.

But the fifth inning would become the saving grace for the SPC. Sara Barlow would get walked before stealing to second. After getting to third, she would make a break to home on an error by the catcher. A single to left field would bring in Kelsey Matala and Anna Mixa and the score would be tied at 5-5.

The Barons would show their might one more time in the fifth when Thomas would steal to home giving SPC a 6-5 lead after the top of the fifth inning.

The seventh inning would be another victory for the Barons as Mixa would deliver solo home run followed by a single from Carpenter bringing in Brooke Zoffer holding the Blue Jackets with a 8-5 score.

Admiral Farragut wanted a comeback. Although Miner and Pizzarelli would bring in runs, it was not enough and the Barons would clench the championship.

Although the Blue Jackets would lose, them and the Barons will be moving onto regionals. For Fabian, regionals will be the determination for how they remember their season and how far they were able to push themselves.

“I think with winning this game it showed that they could play teams to that caliber in the next round. The games in regionals are going to be tough, and if they are like us and come together they could be quite competitive. If we lose I don’t think we will lose from mistakes.”