The Trenton softball team flexed its muscles on Wednesday afternoon at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood.

The No. 1 seed Tigers crushed No. 3 seed Liberty County (Bristol), 13-1 in five innings, in the FHSAA Rural state championship game.

University of Florida commit Addison Allaire drove in four runs with a double and a home run and sophomore Emaleigh Philmon drove in five runs on three hits as Trenton won its third straight state title.

“It’s the same as every year, it feels great,” said Trenton coach Keving Benson. “Every year is a new year, every roster is a new roster, and they’ve got their own stories to tell, and to be a small part of their stories, and helping them achieve their goals of being a state champion, every championship is a special, unique championship, so it’s just great to be right here again.”

The Tigers (25-3) scored four runs in the first inning and four runs in the second for an early 8-0 lead.

“It feels pretty great,” said senior Presley Akins, who made a diving catch in left field to rob a hit in the final inning. “We’ve been back-to-back three times, and it just keeps getting better every single time… it’s sad (final game), but I’m happy that we went out with a bang and run ruled them, so that puts the icing on top of the cake.”

It was certainly a party in the first two innings.

Sophomore right fielder Addilynn Welbers led off the bottom of the first inning with a single to left field, followed by a base hit up the middle by sophomore Lexi Faught.

With two on and no outs, Allaire (2-for-4, DBL, HR, 4 RBI) doubled to left center field, scoring Welbers and Faught for a 2-0 lead.

Later in the inning, Philmon (3-for-3, 5 RBI) singled to center field to drive in two more for a 4-0 lead.

“I honestly was just trying to get on top of the ball,” Philmon said. “I didn’t have a good day in the cages, so I was just trying to get on top of the ball, hit it in gaps, and just get my team home and work something out.”

The fast start was key to their success.

“Oh hype, very hype,” said senior third baseman Madison Hinote, a Florida Gateway College signee. “If energy’s up, we’re up, 100% it was good for us, good for the team, good for the fans, everybody, it’s good.”

After sending nine batters to the plate in the first inning, the Tigers batted from top to bottom in the second inning.

Faught had a one-out single and then Allaire crushed a ball over the fence in right field, her team-leading seventh of the season.

“I was just trying to get level with the ball,” she said. “I knew I was probably going to see something outside, so I was trying to go with it and stay with the ball.”

A wild pitch and a single by Philmon made it 8-0 at the end of just two innings, and then the Tigers put the game away with a 5-run fourth inning.

St. Leo commit MacKenzie Fisher reached on an error, Hinote walked, and Philmon singled to center field to drive in two more.

Senior center fielder Montana Moen also singled in a run and two batters later, Welbers grounded a ball past the shortstop and the left fielder for an inside-the-park two-run home run.

“It feels really great to be back here again, especially with these girls, like they’re my best friends,” Welbers said. “It felt awesome.”

Allaire didn’t dominate in the circle as she did in Tuesday’s state semifinal win against Madison County, but she only allowed four hits in five innings and struck out seven batters.

“I’m really proud of this group of girls,” Allaire said. “We have a couple that are here for the first time. It’s just exciting that they get to have this experience, and I’m really glad. We prepare so much, and I’m just really excited we got to do it together.”

The only run she gave up was a solo home run in the third inning to Northwest Florida State College commit Cha’miya Williams.

In addition to Akins’ catch, Moen had a running catch in center field in the top of the second inning to take away at least a single on the play.

“It feels great,” said Moen, a Santa Fe College signee. “The girls put so much work in. Coach Kevin definitely prepared us for this win. He’s had our backs this whole season, and he believed in me when I didn’t. I went through a slump, and he had my back the whole time, giving me pep talks and everything I needed.”

With only three seniors in the starting lineup, the question of a 4-peat came up.

“I tell the girls every day that it’s hard work to get on top, but it’s harder work to stay on top,” Benson said. “Everybody’s gunning for you every single game. They’ve got that game circled on their schedule every single day, and we’ve got to show up every single day. We’re going to enjoy this one, we’re going to appreciate this one, none of them are easy, so we’re going to enjoy this one and take some time to soak it in and appreciate the work that was put into winning this one, and then we’ll get back to work.”