LONDON — If you look up the word ‘persevere’ you might see a picture of the Corbin Lady Redhounds right beside it.
Crystal Stidham’s squad was counted out by most 13th Region prognosticators when the Lady Redhounds dropped their ninth game in a row and fell to 4-12 during the process on April 13th.
But Stidham, her assistants and the players never gave up despite battling injuries and sicknesses throughout the season.
Corbin began to heat up with the temperatures in May, posting an impressive 13-3 mark since April 13th.
The Lady Redhounds capped things off on Thursday, by picking up a 6-3 win over defending region champion South Laurel in the 50th District title game.
The game actually started on Wednesday with both teams battling to a three-all tie when Mother Nature decided to postpone the matchup until Thursday.
The venue changed as well with the title game moving from Williamsburg to North Laurel High School.
It didn’t seem to bother the Lady Redhounds.
A two-run doubles by senior Kallie Housley in the top of the sixth inning pushed Corbin’s lead to 5-3 after Xandria Roark and Alana Stidham scored.
Corbin added an insurance run in the top of the seventh after Raegan Walker scored on a passed ball while Danni Foley took care of business in the pitcher’s circle in the bottom of the seventh to secure the 6-3 win for Corbin.
“What a season, so proud of my girls,” Stidham said. “These ladies are so resilient and we sure have faced a lot all season long, but that’s what these Lady Redhounds do, they don’t give up or give in. We caught our momentum about midseason and they have never let up. We are seeing the ball, being patient, and they are just playing for each other. Their mentality has been all team coming into this tournament and this part of the season has to be just that.
“South Laurel is always, always, always ready to play year in and year out,” she added. “Coach Carly Mink is a phenomenal coach and she makes it happen year after year. Getting this win is a huge boost for our team and what they have worked for all season. I didn’t schedule easy, we faced top competition all season hoping to prepare us for the postseason.
“They have been through so many highs and lows, but learning how to never give up and trusting the process and just believing in their team has been their motivation,” Stidham continued. “Just so proud of them and they all are deserving of an all district team because it took each and every one of them in and out of the dugout to win.”
Raegan Hinkle’s two-run blast on Wednesday in the fourth inning gave the Lady Redhounds a short-lived 3-2 lead before the Lady Cardinals’ Kenzie Williams tied the game at three apiece in the bottom of the fifth with a groundout.
Housley led Corbin with two hits, two RBI, and a run scored while Morgan Hicks delivered two hits and an RBI. Walker had a hit and a run scored while Hinkle finished with a home run, two RBI and a run scored. Kennedie Guiher also scored.
Foley picked up the win, pitching seven innings while allowing six hits and three earned runs. She also struck out nine batters.
“This game was sure a great game,” Stidham said. “Top to bottom. Danni was all in at the mound as she’s been all season. Her poise and ability to overcome and throw smoke for her team and then trusting her team to throw like she can and let her team work was key. Danni had 9 Ks, and she left the rest to her defense and they came to play.
“Raegan Walker alone snatched up the last three plays of the game herself, mission win was only thing on her’s and the team’s mind,” she added. “Every other play whether it be Bailey, Kallie, Kennedie, Alana, Morgan stretching for everything coming her way, Anela catching beast-mode behind the plate, Abi on every play her way, Raegan Hinkle hitting a two-run home run to put us up 3-2, Kallie Housley hitting the two-run double to put us up 5-3 in the top of the sixth, and Raegan Walker hitting a double and scoring to put us up 6-3 in the seventh — and my dugout cheering and on runners, motivating, I just couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of them. This is their win. Let’s Go Lady Redhounds.”
Morgan Jackson led South Laurel with two hits while Williams finished with a hit, two RBI and a run scored. Audrey Likins had a hit, an RBI and a run scored while Ryleigh Bretz finished with a hit and a run scored. Amara Horn also collected a hit.
Williams took the loss, pitching seven innings, surrendering six hits, and five earned runs while striking out seven batters.
