Walk-off home run gives Red Bay area title

The Red Bay Tigers got two wins over the Colbert County Indians to capture the Class 2A Area 14 title.

The Red Bay girls beat Colbert County 17-0 and 8-6 to punch their ticket to the regionals this week. The Lady Tigers will play Lexington Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Florence Sportsplex.

“I am very proud of the girls,” said Red Bay Coach Shane Nichols. “They did not give up and continued to fight.  They found a way to win. They are a fun group to coach.”

Emma McCollister hit a walk–off home run in the ninth inning to lift the Red Bay Tigers to the area championship.

The Tigers also had to overcome some sloppy play to capture the title. Red Bay was outhit nine to six and committed four errors.

Red Bay (21-14) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Chloe Knoblock scored on a ground out.  Colbert County tied the game in the top of the second inning.

The Tigers reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI-single by Knoblock scoring Annaliese Rogers. Red Bay extended that lead to 4-1 when Georgia Inman hit a two-run home run later in the inning.

Colbert County scored a run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth to tie the game 4-4, but Red Bay got the lead back in the bottom of the sixth inning when Rogers scored on a sacrifice fly.

The Indians tied the game again in the top of the seventh, 5-5.

Colbert County took the lead in the top of the ninth, 6-5, but Red Bay responded in the bottom half of the inning in a two-run, walk–off home run by McCollister.

There was no drama in the previous game between the two teams, as Red Bay trounced Colbert County 17-0.

Sarah Eaton had a home run. Lila Blackburn had two doubles. McCollister and Rogers had a double each.

Knoblock had two hits and two RBIs and scored two runs. Rogers, Knoblock, Inman, Eaton, McCollister and Macy Faulkner all had two RBIs each in the game.

Blackburn pitched a complete game shutout, allowing two hits and striking out seven.