The Gibbs Eagles faced the Carter Hornets in the TSSAA Class 3A state championship game at Blue Raider Softball Field on Friday, May 24, 2024, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Gibbs won 6-1. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY JESSE SMITHEY
MURFREESBORO — In Gibbs Softball years, going from 2017-2024 without a state title isn’t just a dry spell; it’s a significant drought.
And while the state power, indeed, went seven years without a title, the Gibbs Lady Eagle put an end to all of that on Friday night at MTSU’s softball stadium.
In an all-Knoxville final, Gibbs notched state title No. 11 in program history with a decisive 6-1 win over Carter.
“I think there’s a satisfaction (today),” Gibbs coach Carol Mitchell said of getting back to the winner’s circle. “We started after tryouts last year, saying ‘I want to win state.’ Or something about winning state. They were supposed to say that every day.
“And so for them to make that commitment to doing that — and it actually become reality — it made it worth it.”
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Gibbs (31-12) took command of the championship with two runs in the third inning to break open the scoreless contest, and junior Lacey Keck pitched a two-hitter across her seven innings of work.
“Lacey was awesome. There was only three or four runs scored on us the whole week,” Mitchell said. “Just awesome.”
The Lady Eagles went 4-0 during the state tournament, really showing the fortitude forged by playing the demanding schedule Mitchell put together.
Moreover, Gibbs’ win over Carter avenged a 5-1 loss to the Lady Hornets in the Region 2-3A Championship on May 15.
Carter (22-11) reached the title game this week in their first-ever appearance in a state tournament.
“We kind of lost our focus a little bit (May 15 at Carter), and (Carter) played great. They played a good game,” Mitchell said. “But we walked in there. It was one of those day were it was gloomy and rainy all day. I think we let that affect us. Didn’t go in with our best stuff.
“And I think it made us better. We had to go out and perform against Tennessee High (in the sectionals), a very good Tennessee High team. And that might have been the game that flipped the switch.”
Keck didn’t only impress from the pitcher’s circle Friday. She paced the offense, too — going 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Her double to center in the top of the third gave Gibbs a 1-0 lead. Addison Merritt doubled right after to drive in the second run.
“It was definitely nerve-wracking (today). But we have a good team and good chemistry,” Keck said.
“So I knew we could do it.”
Gibbs gave Keck some insurance runs in the fifth, scoring off an error by Carter. Keck, the next batter, drove in a run off a fielder’s choice.
All told, Gibbs collected nine hits. Savanna Melo had three of those and also drove in a run.
“We actually played one of the hardest schedules we’ve ever played,” Mitchell said. “And we weren’t real successful against some of the hard teams we played. But I felt like that playing in those games that were close with tight situations prepared us for any situation we were going to encounter in May.
“And that’s what our season is all about: what’s going on in May — not what’s going on at the beginning of the season.”