Clear Creek is once again Mountain League softball champions.
CCMS hosted rival Pickens Monday to decide who was the best, and the Cats made plays at the plate and in the field to prove they are No. 1.
The Cats found themselves down by four runs early before they came back and held off the Dragonettes to win, 5-4.
Pickens recorded 13 hits but continually left runners stranded on base. The Nettes jumped to a quick lead after the first and duplicated their performance in the second to lead, 4-0.
Shay Vick got the Cats’ half of the second going with a one-out single to center, and she trotted home when Maylee Bramlett tripled into the left center field gap. Two walks followed, and Bramlett scored on a wild pitch.
In the third, CCMS took the lead for good. Sydney Dillard and Kaitlyn Bedwell walked to begin the inning, and both raced home on Neeyah McDaniel’s double to left center. Bramlett was then hit by a pitch with two outs, and Kensie Farmer’s hit up the middle moved the Cats ahead, 5-4.
Pickens threatened with another runner in scoring position in the fourth but was unable to add a run. In the fifth, the Nettes loaded the bases with two hits and a CCMS error. Bedwell then induced two flyouts to left fielder Farmer to seal the championship.
Bedwell pitched all five innings and gave up three earned runs, struck out one and walked one.
CCMS disposed of Dawson County in the semifinals last Wednesday, 6-3.
Both McDaniel and Lily Teague had three hits and drove in two runs. Duncan knocked in a pair as well and collected two hits.
The Cats trailed after the first but pulled ahead in the second, 2-1. Two more runs for CCMS scored in the third, and DCMS answered with two runs in the fourth. With a 4-3 edge, the Cats added two more runs in the fifth.
Bedwell secured another complete game victory. She struck out three and walked three and allowed six hits and three earned runs.