By Rob Grubbs
High School athletics teach a myriad of lifelong lessons – determination, grit, excellence and teamwork, to name a few.
But there is one cruel lesson that repeats itself every year: the finality of your high school career coming to an end. One moment you are at bat, trying to scratch a run across to prolong the series, and the next, it is over.
The Northgate Lady Vikings felt the sting of that emotion Tuesday night after dropping two games to Apalachee, each by a score of 1-0.
The Lady Vikings saved their best for the end of the season. Coach Lisa Skelton did some of the best work of her distinguished career. After some midseason recalibration, the Lady Vikings finished the regular season on a high note.
They defeated a strong Harris County team to get to the state playoffs and won the first two rounds once they got there. They would be back in Columbus as part of the Final Four with a little luck here or there.
Olivia Cato and Kyra Aycock both pitched incredible games – Apalachee just pitched a little better. Emily Hodnett pitched a no-hitter in the first game for the Lady Wildcats. Natalie Heath and Gwen Holbrook were both able to get on base via a walk, and Cato reached on an error, but that was the extent of the offense.
Not to be outdone, Cato had a no-hitter through five innings, as well. But Tiyara Wingfield led off the sixth with a home run, and Hodnett made that stand.
Game Two was a duel between Aycock and Lady Wildcat pitcher Katelyn Flanders, with much the same result. The Lady Vikings were able to put up three hits in the game from Hannah Smith, Holbrook and Fran Lumpp.
Lumpp hit a double in the fourth and stole third with two outs, but the big hit never came. Game One heroes returned for Apalachee, as Wingfield drove in a run in the bottom of the fourth and Hodnett returned to pitch another two innings of hitless work to get the save.
Time marches on as Carlie Chastain, Madison Lumpp, Holbrook and Heath prepare to move on to the next chapter, along with Skelton.
But there is a lot of talent returning, including a nucleus of Cato, Hannah Smith, Anna Baldwin and Aycock that will form a strong foundation for the 2021 Lady Vikings.
A great season comes to the end for the Northgate Lady Vikings.
Hannah Smith had a hit in Game Two. She will be counted on heavily next season.
Catcher Fran Lumpp had a double in Game Two.
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October 31, 2020 at 02:49AM
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Northgate falls just short in Skelton's final game - Newnan Times-Herald
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