FPD rallies to win GHSA softball championship

A three-run rally in the top of the seventh inning resulted in a state championship for the FPD softball program, as the Vikings defeated Wesleyan 5-3 in the if-necessary game Saturday to win the GHSA Class 1A private championship in Columbus.

FPD (31-6) loaded the bases with none out in the top of the seventh for Amanda Evans, who drove Karsen Ochs and Emily Rutledge home with the go-ahead base hit. After Abbey Surles’ single loaded the bases again, Carli Sutton connected on a sacrifice fly to left to drive Allie Parkerson home.

Wesleyan was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh, earning FPD its first GHSA softball championship. The Vikings became the third Middle Georgia program to win a GHSA fast-pitch softball title, joining Jones County (2010) and GMC (2014 and 2015).

“I can’t believe it; I really can’t believe it,” said FPD head coach Kristy Alvarez, who led the Vikings to the championship in her first year as head coach. “I thought we were going to let it slip away. We just let them come back, come back, come back. But our girls would not give up. They were not going to stop until they had no more chances. I’m just so proud of them for fighting through everything and coming out on top. It was awesome.”

The Vikings opened the day with a 5-3 win over Wesleyan in the winners’ bracket final before returning four hours later to take on the Wolves again after Wesleyan topped Tattnall Square 5-0 in the elimination bracket. Wesleyan claimed a 3-2 victory in the first championship game, setting up a winner-take-all finale.

Wesleyan took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning of the if-necessary game, with Jahni Kerr scoring the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice.

Ochs was the winning pitcher in the finale, allowing three earned runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Surles went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Rutledge went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and Ochs went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Tattnall opened its day with a 2-0 win over Stratford in an elimination game. Allie Gordon scored on an Carley Ingle double in the first inning, and Logan Oller scored on Kristen Johnson’s base hit in the fifth. Ashleigh Morton struck out four and walked one while scattering seven hits in the victory, as Stratford finished the tournament in fourth place.

The Trojans (26-9) finished third with its loss to Wesleyan. Cassie Henning’s sixth-inning grand slam lifted the Wolves into the championship round, with Morton striking out six in the loss.

In Class 1A public, Gordon Lee defeated GMC 6-5 and 7-2 to prevent the Bulldogs from winning their third straight championship. Also, Dodge County finished third in Class 2A, falling to Vidalia 2-1.

Also winning state championships Saturday were North Gwinnett (7A), Cambridge (6A), Buford (5A), Central-Carrollton (4A), East Jackson (3A) and Harlem (2A).

This story was originally published October 29, 2016 at 7:59 PM with the headline "FPD rallies to win GHSA softball championship."