Defending state champ White Knoll shows toughness during long winning streak
If White Knoll softball coach April Farr has learned anything about her team over the past three seasons, it’s this: They won’t go down without a fight.
The resiliency and determination that was on display during last year’s state title run was at the forefront again Friday night. The Timberwolves were down to their final strike on several occasions but rallied for five runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to defeat rival Lexington 8-7 and sweep the season series.
Freshman Lexi Winters delivered the game-winning hit with her three-run homer to deep left field.
“I’m kind of at a loss for words right now. But that is what the team has had right now. All heart. They just never gave up and kept in the game,” Farr said.
White Knoll has trailed by four runs In both games against Lexington. The Timberwolves were down 4-0 in March before scoring seven runs over the final four innings.
“We were more focused than we were nervous,” Winters said. “We wanted to work together and work hard to accomplish the win. We just kept up and never got our heads down.”
The Timberwolves have won 16 straight games dating back to last season. White Knoll went through the loser’s bracket of the 5A Lower State playoffs, winning twice at Ashley Ridge before sweeping Byrnes in the 5A championship series for its first state title.
White Knoll has won 28 region games in a row. Their last conference loss came against Spring Valley in 2017 when the Vikings were in Region 5-5A. The Timberwolves are ranked 13th nationally in this week’s MaxPreps’ Top 25. The Wolves finished last season ranked 16th.
The Timberwolves have a veteran roster with eight seniors, seven of which have signed or committed to play in college, including Division I players Hannah Goodwin (Clemson) and Andrea Lyon (Gardner-Webb). Goodwin became the school’s all-time home runs leader last season and Lyon became the school’s winningest pitcher with her victory Friday against the Wildcats.
It was Lyon’s 82nd win, breaking the mark of Candice Evans, who set it more than a decade ago and went on to play at Limestone College. Lyon is 82-11 in her career with 694 strikeouts in 510 1/3 innings pitched.
Unlike the past two years, the Timberwolves have been less reliant on the long ball. White Knoll hit two homers against Lexington but have just hit eight all season after smashing 83 combined in the past two seasons.
“They fight and fight,” Farr said. “We might have to do it with small ball or we might have to do it home runs like we did tonight. Long as we get the ball in play and get it done, that is what mattered to us.
“It is tough to come off the state championship because you got a target on you the whole time. We are feeling that momentum from last year and these girls are determined to get back to the championship.”