Lights out: Lexington pitcher tosses gem to help Wildcats softball to lower state title
Allie Light pitched a gem and Lexington got enough offense early to help propel the Wildcats to the Class 5A state championship softball series for the first time since 2001 after a 3-0 victory over Ashley Ridge on Friday.
The Wildcats won three titles in four years but haven’t returned to the championship since then. After bowing out in the lower state championship bracket last season, Lexington is back in the finals for the first time in 18 years.
Lexington will open the state championship series at 6:30 pm at Byrnes on Monday night.
“This means the world,” Light said. “Coach (Laurie) Epps has put in so much work into this program. All these girls have worked our butts off this past fall, and every one of us deserves this. Now we’re hoping to go all the way.”
Lexington coach Laurie Epps, who came over from Dutch Fork, knew the tradition when she was hired for the job after.
“It’s been a long time. Lexington has a huge softball history, and we’re just happy to put Lexington back on the map and continuing the tradition they’ve had here,” she said.
“We just knew our goal was always to win in the end and we’ve made it to the end. We came together as a team. The great thing about this group is it’s not about one or two players, they genuinely play for each other and that’s why we are where we are.”
Light, an Arkansas commit, was lights out. She allowed a single to leadoff the game but then retired 20 of the next 21 hitters. The only batter to reach during that time came after a strikeout, but a wild pitch allowed her to reach.
Ashley Ridge, who lost to the Wildcats 4-2 to open the double-elimination lower state championship bracket, got its second hit of the game with two outs in the top of the seventh. That didn’t rattle Light, who came back with a strikeout to end it.
Light finished with nine strikeouts and no walks while allowing those two hits. Her defense was spotless as well, with centerfielder Peri Rouillard making an over-the-shoulder catch, Light snagging a sharp line drive back up the middle and Hannah Kumiyama throwing a runner out at first on a ball hit into right field.
“I was feeling great going into the game,” Light said. “Throughout the seven innings, I was focused on keeping my team pumped up, help us keep the momentum going and just doing what I can to get a win.”
Lexington (24-3) got all the runs they would need in the first inning. Kumiyama, a South Carolina signee, doubled and scored on another double from Sarah Gordon. Light then singled home Gordon for a 2-0 lead four batters into the contest.
But Ashley Ridge pitcher Katie Freeman settled in after the first inning. She retired 12 in a row at one point put ran into trouble again in the fifth inning. Saige Stanley was hit by a pitch and Alyssa McCraw followed with a bunt single. After a force out at third, Kumiyama singled to left, scoring McCraw on a close play at the plate.
“We stress scoring early and often – we didn’t do the often tonight – but we scored early and when we score first, we feel like we have a pretty good chance with our pitching and defense behind us,” Epps said.
“It means a lot,” Kumiyama said. “There’s been a lot of people from the past that would have loved to see this moment. This is something we’ve worked hard for and it definitely shows out here.”
WP: Allie Light. LP: Katie Freeman. Hitters: L – Hannah Kumiyama 2-3, 2B, RBI; Sarah Gordon 1-3, 2B, RBI; Light 1-3, RBI.