COLUMBIA – It was simply amazing.
The adjective most used by Hanahan High School players, coaches and fans in trying to describe Friday’s winner-take-all showdown for the state crown wasn’t a stretch.
Hanahan wiggled off the hook time after time before earning an 8-7 victory over Crescent High School in 12 innings at USC’s Beckham Field, securing its first state title since 2008, which also came at the Lady Tigers’ expense. The emotional pendulum swung back and forth for the better part of three hours before it broke off on Hanahan’s side.
Senior Kendall Grubb’s line drive to right center with one out in the bottom of the 12th plated Rachel Shelley from third base with the winning run, setting off a frenzied celebration on the infield for the Hawkettes (30-4), who won the final two games of the series after getting stymied in the opener. Earlier in the 12th, Shelley’s RBI single off the second baseman’s glove tied it. Jordan Fabian then doubled to deep center, setting the stage for Grubb, who belted the first pitch she saw from Crescent hurler Kayla Pepper. It was the only time Hanahan led.
“It was the most unbelievable state final game I’ve ever seen or been a part of,” HHS coach Katrina Moffett said. “We got down 3-0 and these girls kept fighting back and fighting back. I think we were down in that game five different times but they didn’t give up.”
The final heroic play was the first baseman’s first hit of the game -she was 1 for 6 - but she had a screaming line drive for an out in her previous at-bat in the 10th to show she might have Pepper figured out.
“I thought that was going to be the last one,” she said. “The chance to have another at-bat just felt so good. It’s irreplaceable.”
Her last high school hack easily sailed over the centerfielder’s head and rolled to the wall.
Knowing it was plenty deep enough to score the winning run whether it was caught or not, Grubb raised her arms in victory halfway down the first-base line and was swarmed under by teammates before she could reach second base.
“I was just trying to hit something hard and it worked,” Grubb said.
It was quite the turn of events.
Hanahan’s chances seemed on life support after Crescent scored twice in the top of the 11th to take a 6-4 lead but the Hawkettes answered the call, scoring on an error and Emily Elmore’s two-out RBI single just over the glove of the shortstop to tie it 6-6.
In the 12th, Crescent again put pressure on the Hawkettes, plating one on Savannah Chambers’ RBI double.
Hanahan also trailed 4-3 in the ninth before tying it on Elmore’s sacrifice fly.
“It was a roller coaster of emotions,” Moffett said. “… They face adversity and don’t let it bother them.”
The biggest test of mental fortitude might have been overcoming a rough start.
Crescent had seven hits in the first two innings and took what appeared to be a commanding 3-0 lead considering Hanahan didn’t score in the first game of the series and had just two runs in the Game 2 victory.
MacKenzie Dyson, one of four Hanahan seniors, entered the circle in the third inning and didn’t allow another run until it got to international tiebreaker rules in the ninth inning. Each team starts with a runner on second base.
“At the end, the balls weren’t moving as much but I just stayed strong in my head,” Dyson said. “… We didn’t give up one time. I believe in these girls and we just kept fighting. I knew it wasn’t over yet.”
Dyson threw 10 innings, giving up seven hits and fanning four, two days after sparkling over seven innings in Game 2. Fabian, a sophomore USC commitment, finished with three doubles and an RBI for the Hawkettes and Elmore drove in three runs on two hits. Shelley and outfielder Ashlyn Cribb scored two runs apiece.
“There’s no feeling like this,” Dyson said. “We’ve worked for this. This is what we wanted. We got the ring tonight.”
Centerfielder Lauren Anderson and right fielder Hannah Robinson are also seniors for Hanahan. Robinson had an RBI triple in the second inning and Anderson scored the tying run on Shelley’s single in the 12th.
The group felt the sting in 2016 after dropping two games on the final day of the Lower State tournament. They also lost in the Lower State final in 2015. Dyson said those shortfalls have been erased, replaced with these new memories.
“That was something I never wanted to experience again,” she said. “The hurt we felt last year really motivated us and drove us to win the whole thing this year. Oh, my gosh, it’s just amazing right now.”
“We’ve been working hard at this since we were like 10,” Grubb said.
Crescent finished the season 31-5 and was denied its 20th state championship under legendary coach Gary Adams. The Tigers last won a crown in 2013.
Three of Crescent’s titles – all in Class AA - came against Hanahan in (1987, 1988 and 1995).
Looking ahead to 2018, the Hawkettes bring back starting pitcher Drayton Siegling and Fabian behind the dish. Second baseman Rachel Shelley, shortstop Ashley Meckley and Elmore at third base will be returning starters. Designated hitter/infielder Madeline Ferris is another regular coming back.
Cribb, also a pitcher, will be the most experienced outfielder coming back. Alli Harless logged some starts in right field early in the season when Robinson was out with an injury.
