DIVISION III SOFTBALL: Lincoln County fights through loser’s bracket, wins title

Lincoln County’s softball team dug itself into a deep hole on Thursday after dropping it’s first game in the double-elimination Division III state tournament.

But rather than sulk, coach Pat Kelley delivered some choice words to his Lynx players.

“We didn’t work this hard to come up here and lose,” he said. “From there, we just took it one game at a time. They played their hearts out.”

Kaylee Teel went 3-for-4 with a pair of two-run home runs and a double in the second game Saturday at Bishop Manogue high in Reno to lead the Lynx past White Pine 10-4, giving them the Division III state championship. It was the school’s second title, and first since 1999.

“We really can’t comprehend this,” Kelley said. “It’s like we’re in a daze right now. The kids have worked so hard. Everybody did a great job.”

Before it was able to hoist its first trophy in 15 years, Lincoln County had to win four consecutive games in Reno. It did just that by downing Needles, Yerington and White Pine twice.

Teel was also the hero for Lincoln County earlier Saturday when it escaped with a thrilling 8-6 win over White Pine. Her two-out double, which plated Chesnee Harding and Chelsea Lloyd in the top of the eighth, kept the Lynx’s title hopes alive and set up a rematch with the Bobcats.

By the last game, momentum had completely shifted to Lincoln County, which scored all 10 of its runs in the first four innings. The Lynx had a three-run first inning and a six-run fourth to blow by the Bobcats (20-8).

Chelsea Lloyd pitched four innings of relief to earn the win for the Lynx, which got a double and an RBI from Harding. Tanji Tibbitts was 3-for-4 with an RBI, and teammate Bailey Free added two singles for Lincoln County (30-7).

Teal Hussey had a home run, and teammate Jane Murdock was 3-for-3 for White Pine.