With their star pitcher Mary Haff sidelined with a sore arm Lake Region’s Jordan Barnes did her best in the circle to go toe-for-toe with Gainesville’s Katie Chronister.
Ultimately, Barnes and the Thunder didn’t have enough in the tank as the Hurricanes claimed the Class 7A State Championship 1-0.
Barnes pitched an inning of the state semifinal game Friday after Haff, an Arkansas commit was pulled from the game. Barnes picked up where she left off to start the game, retiring 6 in a row after the conclusion of the 3rd inning. In total she struck out 8.
“Very proud of our whole team,” said Lake Region head coach John Bridges. “She’s a good pitcher, she’d be starting anywhere else, she could start for us, that’s what I expected.”
Gainesville’s Katie Chronister, a University of Florida signee was solid in the circle, allowing a runner to make it to 3rd base twice, while fanning 9 batters.
The Hurricanes bats got going in the bottom of the 4th after a pair of singles from Katie and Jackie Chronister. Hallie Karas drove Katie in with a sac fly to right field to make it 1-0.
“Tough, we knew coming in here that one run could win it,” said Bridges. “I said don’t quit until the last out is made, we got to fight until the end and they did. We had a chance at the end and just came up short. Hats off to Gainesville, they’re a good team.”
Lake Region put together their best inning at the plate in the top of the 7th when Avery Cotterill doubled. Kaylee Johnson got on base with an infield single and then stole second putting the go ahead run on second base with only one out. But Chronister was able to end the game after that with a strikeout and groundout to third.
The two teams faced each other back on April 1, with GHS coming out on top 2-1 at the Kissimmee Klassic.
The Thunder were looking for their third state championship in school history.