Tioga rallies late to stun John Curtis and play for Division I select softball crown
By LaMar Gafford
Photo of Tioga's Abbi Troquille (from left), Christina Lambert and Mayghan Brown
SULPHUR, La. – History has a funny way of repeating itself.
In the Division I select softball quarterfinals, Tioga began a rally after trailing 3-2 in the fifth to take the lead in the sixth for a one-run win against Acadiana.
Friday was a case of déjà vu as the Lady Indians started their rally in the fifth to take the lead in the sixth and to come away with a 6-5 victory against John Curtis in the semifinals. With the win, they will play for a state title for the first time since 1979.
“We told them, ‘If you’re going to continue to believe that we’re going to do it, then do it.’ But we did it,” Tioga coach Brad Woodard said. “We’ve done it all year. We’ve been down throughout the year and these girls just keep fighting.
"It doesn’t matter who it is, they’re just gonna fight and give it everything they got.”
The Lady Indians found themselves in a 5-1 hole after John Curtis senior Jacke Melancon drove in Jasmine Roach with a base hit, but doubles by junior Abbi Troquille and sophomore Kaitlyn Roberts pulled them to a 5-4 deficit.
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Tioga (24-3) tied the game in the sixth after freshman Ballie Middleton scored on a throwing error, which led to freshman Mayghan Brown’s go-ahead base hit to score Kaylei Coutee and take the lead.
Much like the quarterfinals against Acadiana, junior Christina Lambert shut the door on the Lady Patriots with 1-2-3 innings. After surrendering a hit to Melancon, Lambert retired the last seven batters she faced.
“I really just wanted to do it for my team,” Lambert said. “I’m just glad that my teammates were able to bring us back up. I just wanted to finish it for my team because this is my most favorite team I’ve ever been on.
"I spend every day with them and I just wanted to do it for them.”
John Curtis (27-9) struck first in the first with a double by Katie Kempton to drive in Gabby Miller, but a throwing error allowed Troquille to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning.
The Lady Patriots regained the lead in the fourth with a base hit by Roach to score Kempton and expanded the lead after Roach doubled in the fifth. Of the seven hits they had, four were doubles as Kempton, Melancon, Gabby Miller and Roach had one each.
Tioga will play St. Thomas More for the Division I select championship on Saturday.
