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By JUSTIN LAMB
MURFREESBORO – The moment certainly wasn’t too big for Gibbs freshman pitcher Lacey Keck.
Keck tossed a three-hit shutout with nine strikeouts to lead the Lady Eagles to a 3-0 win over Tennessee High in the opening round of the Class 3A State Tournament Tuesday afternoon.
“I don’t know that she even knows how big a moment this is,” said Gibbs coach Carol Mitchell, who has guided the program to 10 state championships. “She did a phenomenal job tonight.”
Gibbs coach Carol Mitchell. (Photo by Danny Parker)
With the win, Gibbs (39-4) advances to face Hardin County (17-10-1), a 3-2 winner over Dyer County, at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The loss sends the Lady Vikings (26-9) into an elimination game against Dyer County (26-19) also at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Despite her program’s tremendous success, Coach Mitchell knows if her team is going to claim its first crown since 2017, they are going to have to rely on a talented group of freshmen and sophomores.
“When you win the first game it’s huge,” said Mitchell. “I’ve been here but these girls haven’t. We are starting a lot of freshmen and sophmores. I’ve got one senior and just a trickling of juniors. Every moment and every game is just fun.”
The Lady Eagles would give Keck all the runs she would need in the second inning when Emma Keck ripped a double that tipped off the glove of Tennessee High left fielder Kaylie Hughes to drive in courtesy runner Savanna Melo. Melo was running for Lacey Keck, who had reached on an inning-opening single.
Gibbs added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth inning on an RBI single from Gracie Palmer, who would later score on Jordann Reagann’s triple to left field.
“We finally got it out of the air,” Mitchell said. “We had been popping it up or hitting it off the end of the bat. That inning we just happened to get some shots and get some runs.”
Tennessee High had a chance to make things interesting in the seventh inning as Hughes and Abby Haga reached out on singles before Keck settled down to get a strikeout and a game-ending groundout.
“I was just thinking that I need to hit my spots,” Keck said. “I knew that my team had my back.”
Keck also added a pair of hits to lead Gibbs along with Malyiah Smith, while Palmer and Emma Keck each added one hit.
“I was definitely nervous,” Keck said. “I’m glad my coaches have put the confidence in me to come here and do good.”
Worley, Hughes and Haga had the lone hits for the Lady Vikings, while Rylee Fields took the loss allowing three runs on nine hits with a strikeout and a walk.