History was on Madisonville’s side but the present belongs to Caldwell County.
The Lady Tigers won their first district softball championship in 23 years on Wednesday, riding a grand slam from Harper Holeman to a 6-2 victory over Madisonville-North Hopkins.
The Lady Maroons had won the previous 11 7th District championships and carried the No. 1 seed into this year’s tournament.
Madisonville had claimed a pair of one-run decisions over Caldwell during the regular season — and had taken 41 of the past 43 matchups between the two teams.
But the Lady Tigers scored twice in the third inning and four times in the fourth to grab a 6-0 lead while getting solid pitching from Alexis Wood.
Madisonville (23-10-1) broke up the shutout on a two-run home run to center by Mackenzie Stoltz in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Lady Maroons then got their leadoff hitter on base in the seventh when Nevaeh Lindle singled into center.
However, Caldwell finished the game in style. A fly out to center was the first out of the inning, then the Lady Tigers turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and set off a celebration in front of the Caldwell dugout.
Caldwell (16-14) had taken the lead on back-to-back sacrifice flies by Adley Lewis and Alexis Wood in the top of the third inning.
In the fourth, Tink Clark led off with a single, then Josie Palm reached on an error. Daelen Kizzee drew a one-out walk, setting the stage for Holeman — Caldwell’s career home run leader, who homered to left with two outs to extend the margin to 6-0.
Wood went all seven innings in the pitching circle, allowing one earned run on four base hits while striking out one and walking one.
Holeman finished the day 2-for-3 with a double, a homer and the four runs batted in. Clark was 2-for-3 while Brylee Butts had a single.
For Madisonville, Stoltz had her 17th home run of the season while Maggie Killough, Katelyn Rodgers and Lindle each singled.
Sadie Kirk suffered the loss in the circle. She did not allow an earned run, but was tagged with six unearned runs on four base hits in four innings. Stoltz tossed the final three innings, allowing just one base hit.
Both teams will play in the 2nd Region tournament next week at Webster County.
The championship is Caldwell’s first in the 7th District. The Lady Tigers’ 2002 title came as a member of the 5th District.
Caldwell had finished as runner-up to Madisonville each of the past seven seasons.
