Head coach Tina McDaniel had plenty of praise for the Lady Cats.
Clear Creek softball captured their second consecutive Mountain League championship Sept. 29. CCMS topped rival Pickens in the title game 5-4 after trailing 4-0 at the conclusion of the second inning.
The Cats made crucial plays offensively and defensively to ensure they were the No. 1 team once again.
“Our girls have had a never-quit attitude all season,” McDaniel said. “Even if we get down early, they never panic, and they keep playing hard. In the championship, our outfield really stepped up. They caught every catchable ball and held the Pickens runners with their relay throws.
“We didn’t have a ton of hits, but we had some very timely hits with runners in good position to score. We were patient at the plate and made them pitch to us. I feel like base running has been a strength all season. We have speed and a high softball IQ on the basepaths.”
While some league opponents had anticipated a down year for CCMS, the Cats proved they still had plenty of capable and fundamentally sound players. Clear Creek returned just three players off last season’s championship team, and all took the field at different positions this year.
“This season has been epic. We shut down the naysayers and the doubters this season,” McDaniel said. “We started strong and we finished stronger. At the beginning of the season, our goal was to make the playoffs. We wanted to be one of the top-four teams at the end of the season. When we made the playoffs, the goal was to win the championship. I don’t think our girls ever doubted. They love each other, and they play so well as a team.
“So, to do what we have done this year, it has been such a phenomenal experience. Last year’s team was dominant pitching and power hitting. This year’s team was solid pitching, solid defense and a mix of speed and power.”
There was some drama ahead of the league tournament with a three-way tie for first with Pickens and Lumpkin County. All three teams tied in head-to-head league play and also duplicated each other for runs allowed in head-to-head competition and runs scored.
A coin toss was used to determine seeding, and CCMS won the luck of the draw to be No. 1. The spot also guaranteed they would be on their home field for the league tournament.
“Having home-field advantage was huge for us. We had some big crowds of support this season, and that is always helpful and creates a fun atmosphere,” McDaniel said.
“They are so fun to watch. We would like to thank our parents, the administration at CCMS, the booster club, Gilmer High coaches and fans for their support of CCMS Lady Cat softball this season. We feel so blessed to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.”
The Cats posted a 13-3 overall record and were 11-3 versus league opponents. In league games, CCMS combined to outscore the opposition, 110-69.