COLUMBUS — The Commerce girls softball team's bid for its first-ever state title was snuffed out by perennial power Gordon Lee in an 8-2 loss in the championship series on Saturday in the Class A Public finals at the Olympic Softball Complex.
It was the fifth consecutive Class A Public state title for Gordon Lee and the second win of the Final 4 tournament for the Lady Trojans over Commerce. Gordon Lee took a 12-9, 8-inning win over Commerce on Friday in the winner's bracket.
In the finals,the Lady Tigers could not contain the powerful Gordon Lee lineup, which pounded out 14 hits in the title game. Gordon Lee jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead after the second inning and never let Commerce back into the game.
The Lady Trojans added single runs in the fourth and fifth for a 7-0 advantage before Commerce was able to trim the lead to 7-2 in the bottom of the fifth. But the Lady Tigers could get no closer.
Commerce had advanced to its first championship series earlier in the day with a 6-3 win over Bryan County in the elimination round.
It was the second win of the Final 4 tournament for the Lady Tigers over Bryan County.
Against Bryan County, the Lady Tigers scored one run in the first and two in the third to take a 3-0 lead. Bryan County trimmed it to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the fourth but Commerce scored three times in the fifth to extend the lead.
Carson Hobbs led the Commerce to the win in the circle. Hobbs surrendered two runs on five hits over four innings and struck out six. Graci West threw the final three innings in relief for the save.
