Charles Henderson did what it needed to do Saturday in the high school softball sectional.

The Trojans defeated Escambia County High School in the championship game Monday night to win the sectional and earn the right to play the sub-state tournament at home. Charles Henderson defeated Escambia County 11-1 in five innings to finish the tournament as champions.

"This is the first time Robertsdale will have to come here," Charles Henderson coach Steve Haug said. "They're not very hospitable down there, so maybe we won't be hospitable up here."

Robertsdale will be the Trojans' opponent Saturday in the sub-state tournament. The two teams will meet for a best-of-three series to determine a representative to the state finals.

Charles Henderson defeated Escambia County twice Monday. The Trojans won the first meeting of the day 2-0 and stayed in the winner's bracket.

In the first championship game, Escambia County won 7-3 to force the "if necessary" game.

Cassie Lassiter pitched her third straight game in the 7-3 triumph for ECHS while Charles Henderson starter Allie Park was taken out after surrendering five runs in two-and-two-thirds innings.

In addition, batters one-through-five went 0-for-18 in that game.

"If you can get on Charles Henderson early, we knew they don't respond well," ECHS head coach Christy Nall said. "If they get up, they are harder to beat."

Haug had a different explanation.

"I think we were not as sharp because we had to sit out a game while they got to play one," Haug said. "They had more energy.

"But we sat them down in the outfield after the game and talked to them. Plus, we knew (Lassiter) had to run out of gas eventually."

Lassiter pitched 26 innings Monday. She surrendered only seven runs through the first 22 innings, but the third inning of the final game proved to be her undoing.

In that inning, the Trojans scored seven runs while sending 11 batters to the plate. Claire Goodson, Ashton Spann, Chelsey Howard, Rachael Spurlin, Laura Wesley, Andrea Ellis and Natalie Patterson all scored in the third inning.

Brittany Carlisle picked up her second win of the day, going the full five innings and surrendering one run on two hits.

She also picked up the win in the first game, going seven innings for a complete-game no-hitter.