Dream Weaver prophesied it.
On Wednesday morning, prior to the FHSAA Softball Rural state championship game, senior shortstop Olivia Weaver told head coach Kevin Benson that the Tigers would win the state title by 10 runs in five innings.
Sophomore pitcher Addison Allaire tossed a one-hitter, and the No. 4 seed Tigers pounded out 14 hits in an 11-1 win against No. 2 Northview (Bratt) to win their second straight state title.
“It’s awesome,” said Weaver, one of four seniors on the roster. “I feel like we’ve worked so hard this year, and we’ve gone through so many ups and downs this season, so it’s just so rewarding to be here again.”
As they did in the 9-2 state semifinal win against Liberty County (Bristol), Trenton scored in the opening inning.
The Tigers (19-6) sent seven batters to the plate and scored three runs on four hits, and it ended up being the difference in the game.
“It feels amazing,” said first-year head coach Kevin Benson, who was an assistant on last year’s title team. “God’s so good. To give me the opportunity to lead this program and these young ladies. It’s a great group that I’ve been able to work with for years now…a big win for the program.”
Junior Presley Akins (2-for-2, DBL, RBI, RS) led off the game with a double to left field. Two batters later, Allaire singled to right field to put two on with one out.
Catcher MacKenzie Fisher (3-for-3, DBL, 2 RBI, 2 RS) put Trenton on the board with a double to left field, scoring Akins and courtesy runner Aliyah Bowers for a 2-0 lead.
“Yeah, I was definitely a little nervous with an 0-2 count,” Fisher said. “I thought she was going to throw me a changeup, but she threw me outside, and I went for it, and we scored two runs.”
Freshman second baseman Makenna Young (2-for-3, DBL, RBI, RS) doubled down the third base line, scoring Fisher for a 3-0 lead.
Allaire immediately set the tone in the bottom of the first inning by striking out the side in order.
“I just made sure I hit my spots,” she said. “I trust Fish (Fisher) behind me so much. She’s been a real big help to me this year and I’m so grateful for her.”
In last year’s extra-inning win against Branford in the Class 1A state championship game, Allaire was pulled, lasting just 4.2 innings.
On Wednesday, she went the distance.
Northview (22-7), which scored 14 runs in its state semifinal win against Branford, was limited to just one hit.
“I definitely prepared myself better this year,” said Allaire, who took an ice bath and a nap on Tuesday at the hotel after throwing 110+ pitches in the state semifinals. “I knew I had to go and get some rest yesterday after our game. We played earlier than last year yesterday so that really helped. I just knew I really was going to have to dig deep.”
Trenton added plenty of insurance with four runs in the top of the third inning.
Fisher and Young had back-to-back singles, followed by three straight bunts.
Freshman Emaleigh Philmon had a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up, followed by an RBI bunt single by freshman Addilynn Welbers and a sacrifice bunt by senior Emma Brideson, which scored another run for a 5-0 lead.
That brought No. 9 hitter Charleigh Philmon to the plate.
The senior hit her first home run since her sophomore season. The two-run shot over the left field fence gave the Tigers a 7-0 advantage.
“I went up there and I tried to not let the moment be too big and just have fun and just swing at my pitch,” she said. “It (pitch) was middle in and that’s what I like.”
The Chiefs scored an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning but finished the game with just three baserunners.
Although Allaire did hit a batter, she didn’t walk anyone and struck out 12.
“She’s so phenomenal,” Benson said. “She makes a coach’s life and a team’s life a whole lot easier to have a kid like her in the circle. She really can control the game…she’s feisty and laser-focused. She takes pride in her craft. She puts in a lot of time and effort to condition her body.”
The Trenton bats weren’t done, though.
The Tigers ensured the mercy-rule win with a four-run inning in the top of the fifth.
After consecutive walks to start the inning, a passed ball brought home Emaleigh Philmon.
Her sister, Charleigh, had an infield hit to third, scoring Welbers for a 9-1 lead.
Akins picked up an RBI on a sacrifice bunt and Weaver added an RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field to go up 11-1.
Allaire struck out the side in order in the bottom of the fifth to secure another state championship for Titletown.
“It’s amazing,” said Fisher, who transferred for her senior year from Chiefland. “I love it over here. I love the team. We all clicked so well at the beginning of the season, and to be able to come here and win a state championship, especially a run-rule in the fifth inning…I can’t believe that I’m here and that we did it like this.”
