championship title

By micah lewter The Messenger

The Troy Dixie Belles saved their best performance for last at the state tournament.

Troy shut out Demopolis 10-0 and Sand Mountain 5-0 to win the state championship Thursday night. The Belles will now go to the World Series in Denison, Texas, Aug. 1, the first time a Troy team has won a girls'

state tournament in softball.

"We were fortunate to have good pitching tonight," said coach Paul Gilbert. "We've had good pitching through the tournament, and we got some more good pitching tonight."

In the championship game against Sand Mountain, Autumn Welch and Whitney Johnson combined to throw a no-hitter in the 5-0 victory.

"I didn't know we could do that against Sand Mountain," coach Mark Kilpatrick said.

Troy's defense struggled early in the game, committing two errors in the first inning and four in the first three innings.

But Welch and Johnson did not suffer any dire consequences, and they held on to keep Sand Mountain off the board.

Welch and Goshen's Heather West combined for the win in the first game. Troy pitchers surrendered only one hit between the two games.

Heather Snell was a solid hitter all tournament. She hit an RBI double to help Troy win the title game.

Eden Harris reached base in every plate appearance Thursday as well.