Newberry played one of its worst games of the season against Keystone Heights on March 5.

On Thursday night, the Panthers played one of their best.

Junior Madison Rodgers’ fielder’s choice in the bottom of the eighth inning helped top seed Newberry edge No. 2 seed Keystone Heights, 4-3, to win the FHSAA Class 2A-District 5 title.

It was the first time in program history that Newberry (14-8) won back-to-back district championships.

“I feel proud and grateful to have the group of girls that I have and the coaching staff that I have,” said Newberry coach Michele Roundtree. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season, and so to find a way to come together…we knew that we had to be our best selves and do it together, and I’m just so proud of them.”

In the first meeting, the Indians (11-15) handed the Panthers an 11-1 loss in five innings.

However, Newberry senior ace Sarah Burns didn’t pitch that game, but instead played first base.

Burns (8 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 13 K) quickly set the tone in the first inning by striking out the side, and she had eight strikeouts over the first four innings.

“It’s just like winning the first one over and over again,” said Burns, who won two district titles at Santa Fe for her fourth straight district championship. “And to be with these girls and win another one back-to-back, which has never been done in Newberry softball history before, is absolutely amazing. I could not be more proud of myself and these girls.”

Newberry, which won its first district title since 1999 last year, scored first in the bottom of the first inning off Keystone senior pitcher Kadence Massey (7.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 6 K).

Junior shortstop Riley Keith was hit by pitch and three batters later junior catcher Chloe Jones singled to right field for an early 1-0 lead.

The Indians threatened to even the score in the top of the fourth inning.

Burns had retired seven in a row but she gave up a lead off single to Keystone freshman Cadie Bowels, who stole two bases to get to third.

Following consecutive strikeouts by Burns, Keystone sophomore shortstop Bella Cumbo popped up a foul ball on the first base side and Jones made a diving catch to end the inning.

“I don’t know if history is trying to repeat itself, but she did that actually last year in the championship game as well,” Roundtree said. “She about ran into a fence diving for a ball, and it was almost carbon copy. We did a lot of pop fly communication, and a lot of diving practice this week. We hit the balls at them about as hard as we could and demanded that out of them and kept saying ‘if you’re not going to do it in practice, you’re not going to do it in the game,’ and they figured out how to do it in practice.”

Jones collided with her first baseman but held on to the ball.

“One thing I always want is to have my pitcher’s back, and two outs, I mean, put it all out on the field,” she said. “As soon as I saw that ball, I knew if it touched that ground it would just give that batter another chance to hit one, especially with that runner on base…it felt amazing to have my team’s back.”

Keystone finally broke through in the top of the fifth inning.

Eighth-grader Lily Asa hit her first home run of the season, a solo shot to left center field to tie the game at 1-1.

Sophomore Bailey Amato singled and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Rebecca Binet, and No. 9 hitter Chloe Still gave the Indians their first lead. The senior singled to right field to put her team in front, 2-1.

Newberry answered in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Freshman designated player Bristol Bryant singled to start the inning and then Burns crushed a ball over the left field fence for her second home run of the season.

“That was amazing,” Roundtree said. “That thing got out of here in a hurry. I mean, she lined that sucker out. I’m glad our cows aren’t in the field anymore. She might have hit one.”

It was Burns’ first home run on the Panthers’ home field.

“I’m going to be so honest, I don’t even remember hitting the ball,” she said. “I don’t remember seeing that I hit the ball. I got it in the batter’s box, and I was just like, ‘just get on base’ and instead, I ended up rounding all four of them.”

Cumbo tied it at 3-3 with an RBI double in the top of the sixth.

It came down to a “Texas Tiebreaker,” and after Keystone Heights was unable to score in the top of the inning, the Panthers found a way in the bottom of the inning.

Sophomore Abbie Parker started at second base and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Keith.

Two batters later, Rodgers grounded to shortstop, but Cumbo’s throw to the plate was late and the Panthers walked it off.

“It feels amazing,” Rodgers said. “We made history tonight.”

Newberry clinched a regional bid next Wednesday, while Keystone Heights will hope to earn an at-large bid when the FHSAA announces the field at 2 p.m. on Friday.

FHSAA softball district championships

(teams in the Mainstreet coverage area in bold)

Thursday, April 30

Class Rural-District 6

1 Branford 11, 3 Dixie County (Cross City) 0 (6)

Class Rural-District 7

1 Trenton 12, 2 Williston 2 (5)

Class 2A-District 5

1 Newberry 4, 2 Keystone Heights 3 (8)

Class 3A-District 2

1 Wakulla (Crawfordville) 16, 2 Suwannee (Live Oak) 1 (4)

Class 3A-District 5

1 Santa Fe (Alachua) 9,2 Palatka 4

Class 4A-District 3

2 Columbia (Lake City) 7, 1 Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 4

Class 5A-District 5

1 Gainesville 7, 3 Deltona 6