In postseason softball, anything can happen. Especially when your season is on the line. Tuesday’s region semifinal game between Copper Basin and South Pittsburg was a perfect example.

A pitcher’s duel turned into a 1-1 tie after seven innings. It was a true battle between young and old. Senior Kaylee Kilgore was superb inside the circle for the Lady Pirates while eighth grader Kinsley Ross proved she was more than ready for the moment at the varsity level.

The Lady Cougars were able to crack the Kilgore code in the top of the ninth when Alexis Hyatt led off the inning with a single that turned into three bases after an error in the outfield. Copper Basin made sure to take full advantage by capitalizing on a few more South Pitt mistakes to take a 3-1 lead.

The Lady Pirates never wavered. They quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning and tied the game on an Adelyn McLemore hit through the third baseman’s legs.

South Pittsburg could taste the win with runners on second an third with no outs. Until Copper Basin relief pitcher Caitlin Pack made a diving catch inside the circle and doubled up the runner at third to help get the Lady Cougars out of the jam.

Both teams would exchange runs in the 10th as the 11th didn’t hold back on the drama either. Now playing under the international tiebreaker rules, a runner was automatically placed at second base. Kilgore answered Pack’s brilliance with a great snag of her own in the circle then doubled up the runner at second.

In the bottom of the 11th, with two outs, Macy Mashburn called game with a single up the middle. South Pittsburg comes away with a thrilling 6-5 win to advance to the region championship game. 

The Lady Pirates will play Whitwell, a team they beat for the district title in 12 innings, on Wednesday at 6:30 at Warner Park.Â