Anderson's no-hitter lifts Tishomingo to back-to-back state championships
Grace Anderson walked to the back of the circle and took a deep breath.
The senior pitcher from Tishomingo high school had struck out two batters and was one pitch away from striking out the side in the final inning.
Just as she had done many times before, Anderson wound back and threw a strike across the plate. After the Washington batter whiffed on the swing, Anderson flung her face mask and glove in the air. She had accomplished a feat only a few pitchers had in a state championship game.
Anderson threw a no-hitter in Tishomingo's 3-0 win over Washington for the Class 3 A state championship on Saturday. Overall, Anderson struck out 15 batters on Field 1 of the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.
“That's the last thing that I was thinking about the whole time,” Anderson said about her no- hit t er. “The whole time I was thinking, `I got to do this for these girls. I got to finish for them because they're finishing for me.'”
The first five innings, featured a pitching battle and score less sides. But in the sixth inning, Tishomingo had a breakthrough. After loading the bases, Sloan S lover hit a two-RBI single. Hailey McMillen then scored after an error.
The three- run advantage was all Anderson needed to lead Tishomingo to back-toback state championships. Tishomingo coach Charles Hook couldn' t have been more impressed with her performance.
“She's an awesome pitcher, one of the best I've ever seen,” Hook said. “She continues to amaze me every year. I'm super proud of her she's a bulldog in the mound. She doesn't give up, she just pounds the strike zone.”