Gibbs Makes Lady Vikings Latest Sectional Road Victim
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Tradition-rich Gibbs gave Tennessee High Keck Sunday afternoon.
Lady Eagles pitcher Lacey Keck limited the Lady Vikings to just three hits and collected three of her own in a 5-1 Class AAA sectional victory at Rotary Park.
The victory sends the ten-time state champions to an eighth-straight state tournament and 37th overall. Gibbs (29-12) has now qualified for the state tournament in 31 of the last 33 full seasons.
Gibbs is now also 9-0 in state sectional road games.
“After the loss on Wednesday (region final to Carter), we told them that we have had eight teams that lost in the region [title game] and went on and won the sub-state game on the road,” said Gibbs coach Carol Mitchell. “That was one of our big things we said was making it nine-for-nine.”
It also seemed every Gibbs hitter stretched Tennessee High ace Carly Compton to nine pitches per at-bat.
“We’ve probably faced six or seven girls throughout our season that throw similar to her,” noted Mitchell. “You learn throughout the season how to handle pitchers that throw a lot of different kinds of pitches and try to keep you off balance. My hitters, especially down in our lineup, did a really good job [of making Compton work].”
Compton was reached for nine hits, walked seven and hit one, but also struck out 14 while throwing 150 pitches.
Compton also rarely worked without traffic. Discounting leadoff hitters every inning, Compton faced only six other batters with the bases empty.
“They were definitely a lot more patient with my pitches,” explained Compton. “I came out and didn’t really feel my best, but still felt pretty good. Things just didn’t go our way.”
Keck gave Gibbs the early lead with a one-out double in the top of the first. Compton tied the score with a line drive homer to center in the fourth, her 12th of the season.
“I knew coming in that [Keck] was going to try to throw outside, outside, outside and we prepared for that,” said Compton. “I just saw it come in and had to barrel something up against a good pitcher. I wasn’t trying to hit one over.”
Gibbs went back ahead on the top of the sixth when Maddi Whaley roped a hanging Compton change-up for a solo homer.
“She (Whaley) has a lot of power,” Mitchell said. “It’s just getting that right pitch in there. She [Compton] hung it and Maddi hit it.”
Tennessee High had a chance to tie and even take the lead in the bottom of the sixth, but the Gibbs defense came through with a couple of web gems to deny the Lady Vikings.
With one out, Addie Wilhoit walked, Abby Haga was hit by a pitch and Compton singled to load the bases.
But Maddi Hall’s blooper behind first was flagged down by second baseman Savanna Mello and Macie Strouth’s fly ball to the deep right field corner found the glove of Dakota Large.
“My mindset was that my team had my back and I knew they had my back,” Keck said. “She [Large] came out of nowhere. I was like, man, it was amazing.”
Compton said not scoring in the sixth took some wind out of the Lady Viking sails.
“They are good on defense and they are quick and we knew that coming in,” said Compton. “They’re fast. It’s hard when you’re barreling balls and they are going straight to people. That’s just the game. It definitely gets a little bit deflating.”
The Lady Eagles then promptly batted around to score three runs in the top of the seventh. Addison Merritt raced home on a wild pitch, Hayley Keck wore a pitch with the bases loaded and Malyiah Smith’s sacrifice bunt plated the final run of the frame.
The Lady Vikings went down in order in the bottom of seventh to see their season end at 24-5.
“Lacey pitched well,” said Mitchell. “She kept the ball down so much. Tennessee High’s a great team and Compton’s a great pitcher and it was a battle right up there until the end. We were fortunate to come out of here with a win.”
It’s the third straight postseason win for Gibbs over Tennessee High, the first of which came in the first round of the 2022 state tournament, to date the only Lady Viking state tournament appearance.
“All I can do is trust God’s plan,” Compton said. “Because there was no reason for us to lose that ballgame. It just slipped from us and that’s OK. Crap happens.”
Gibbs – L. Keck and Merritt. Tennessee High – Compton and Haga. W – L. Keck (27-9). L – Compton (21-2). HR – Compton, Tennessee High (solo in 4th); Whaley, Gibbs (solo in 6th).
Lady Eagles pitcher Lacey Keck limited the Lady Vikings to just three hits and collected three of her own in a 5-1 Class AAA sectional victory at Rotary Park.
The victory sends the ten-time state champions to an eighth-straight state tournament and 37th overall. Gibbs (29-12) has now qualified for the state tournament in 31 of the last 33 full seasons.
Gibbs is now also 9-0 in state sectional road games.
“After the loss on Wednesday (region final to Carter), we told them that we have had eight teams that lost in the region [title game] and went on and won the sub-state game on the road,” said Gibbs coach Carol Mitchell. “That was one of our big things we said was making it nine-for-nine.”
It also seemed every Gibbs hitter stretched Tennessee High ace Carly Compton to nine pitches per at-bat.
“We’ve probably faced six or seven girls throughout our season that throw similar to her,” noted Mitchell. “You learn throughout the season how to handle pitchers that throw a lot of different kinds of pitches and try to keep you off balance. My hitters, especially down in our lineup, did a really good job [of making Compton work].”
Compton was reached for nine hits, walked seven and hit one, but also struck out 14 while throwing 150 pitches.
Compton also rarely worked without traffic. Discounting leadoff hitters every inning, Compton faced only six other batters with the bases empty.
“They were definitely a lot more patient with my pitches,” explained Compton. “I came out and didn’t really feel my best, but still felt pretty good. Things just didn’t go our way.”
Keck gave Gibbs the early lead with a one-out double in the top of the first. Compton tied the score with a line drive homer to center in the fourth, her 12th of the season.
“I knew coming in that [Keck] was going to try to throw outside, outside, outside and we prepared for that,” said Compton. “I just saw it come in and had to barrel something up against a good pitcher. I wasn’t trying to hit one over.”
Gibbs went back ahead on the top of the sixth when Maddi Whaley roped a hanging Compton change-up for a solo homer.
“She (Whaley) has a lot of power,” Mitchell said. “It’s just getting that right pitch in there. She [Compton] hung it and Maddi hit it.”
Tennessee High had a chance to tie and even take the lead in the bottom of the sixth, but the Gibbs defense came through with a couple of web gems to deny the Lady Vikings.
With one out, Addie Wilhoit walked, Abby Haga was hit by a pitch and Compton singled to load the bases.
But Maddi Hall’s blooper behind first was flagged down by second baseman Savanna Mello and Macie Strouth’s fly ball to the deep right field corner found the glove of Dakota Large.
“My mindset was that my team had my back and I knew they had my back,” Keck said. “She [Large] came out of nowhere. I was like, man, it was amazing.”
Compton said not scoring in the sixth took some wind out of the Lady Viking sails.
“They are good on defense and they are quick and we knew that coming in,” said Compton. “They’re fast. It’s hard when you’re barreling balls and they are going straight to people. That’s just the game. It definitely gets a little bit deflating.”
The Lady Eagles then promptly batted around to score three runs in the top of the seventh. Addison Merritt raced home on a wild pitch, Hayley Keck wore a pitch with the bases loaded and Malyiah Smith’s sacrifice bunt plated the final run of the frame.
The Lady Vikings went down in order in the bottom of seventh to see their season end at 24-5.
“Lacey pitched well,” said Mitchell. “She kept the ball down so much. Tennessee High’s a great team and Compton’s a great pitcher and it was a battle right up there until the end. We were fortunate to come out of here with a win.”
It’s the third straight postseason win for Gibbs over Tennessee High, the first of which came in the first round of the 2022 state tournament, to date the only Lady Viking state tournament appearance.
“All I can do is trust God’s plan,” Compton said. “Because there was no reason for us to lose that ballgame. It just slipped from us and that’s OK. Crap happens.”
Gibbs | 100 | 001 | 3 | -- | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Tennessee High | 000 | 100 | 0 | -- | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Gibbs – L. Keck and Merritt. Tennessee High – Compton and Haga. W – L. Keck (27-9). L – Compton (21-2). HR – Compton, Tennessee High (solo in 4th); Whaley, Gibbs (solo in 6th).
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