This was not the way the season was supposed to end. All season long, the Winston Redbirds had stared every challenger in the face and refused to blink. As the players warmed up for the start of the championship game of the Missouri Boy's Fastpitch Championship on Saturday, the Redbirds had defeated all challengers and were a mere 7 innings away from winning a State Championship.
The day had seen 2 dominating performances by the Redbirds. In the opening round of the tournament, the Redbirds had made quick work of the eighth seeded Newtown-Harris Tigers defeating them 14-0. The Tigers never threatened and never had more than 1 base runner in an inning. At the plate, the Redbirds were patient and used a combination of walks and timely hits to roll up 14 runs.
The second round game would see the Redbirds face the East Harrison Bobcats. The Redbirds again overwhelmed their opponent and at the end of the fourth, they had a commanding 15-0 victory. The Redbird pitching was characteristically dominant and the Redbird bats strung together line-drives and extra-base hits to deliver the knock-out blow to the Bobcats.
In the championship game the Redbirds would face a familiar foe in the Jefferson Eagles. This would be the fourth match-up of the top 2 squads in the state. In the previous 3 games, the Redbirds had always emerged victorious. Despite this success, the Redbirds knew they were in for a challenge. Jefferson brought a very good team into the game (their only losses on the season coming at the hands of the Redbirds). The Eagles also are the most decorated program in the history of the championship tournament having won the title an impressive 10 times. The game was a pitchers duel in every sense of the word. The Eagles mounted only one scoring threat with their only extra base hit of the contest scoring their lone run. However, the Redbirds could never mount an offensive charge, as Jefferson's pitching was up to the challenge. The 2 teams flashed some very impressive defense and dominating pitching. In the end, when the dust settled, the Eagles stood victorious winning their 11th state title 1-0 over our Redbirds.
While the season ended differently than we all hoped, I could not be more proud of our Redbirds. They fought all season and all game long. They refused to go down without a fight and they left everything they had on the field. I know that everyone is disappointed by the outcome but I am here to tell you that our Redbirds represented themselves, their families, their school, and their community in the best way. I am proud of all of our student-athletes and coaches. Despite the loss,
It is a Great Day to be a Redbird!
This was not the way the season was supposed to end. All season long, the Winston Redbirds had stared every challenger in the face and refused to blink. As the players warmed up for the start of the championship game of the Missouri Boy's Fastpitch Championship on Saturday, the Redbirds had defeated all challengers and were a mere 7 innings away from winning a State Championship. 
The day had seen 2 dominating performances by the Redbirds. In the opening round of the tournament, the Redbirds had made quick work of the eighth seeded Newtown-Harris Tigers defeating them 14-0. The Tigers never threatened and never had more than 1 base runner in an inning. At the plate, the Redbirds were patient and used a combination of walks and timely hits to roll up 14 runs.
The second round game would see the Redbirds face the East Harrison Bobcats. The Redbirds again overwhelmed their opponent and at the end of the fourth, they had a commanding 15-0 victory. The Redbird pitching was characteristically dominant and the Redbird bats strung together line-drives and extra-base hits to deliver the knock-out blow to the Bobcats.
In the championship game the Redbirds would face a familiar foe in the Jefferson Eagles. This would be the fourth match-up of the top 2 squads in the state. In the previous 3 games, the Redbirds had always emerged victorious. Despite this success, the Redbirds knew they were in for a challenge. Jefferson brought a very good team into the game (their only losses on the season coming at the hands of the Redbirds). The Eagles also are the most decorated program in the history of the championship tournament having won the title an impressive 10 times. The game was a pitchers duel in every sense of the word. The Eagles mounted only one scoring threat with their only extra base hit of the contest scoring their lone run. However, the Redbirds could never mount an offensive charge, as Jefferson's pitching was up to the challenge. The 2 teams flashed some very impressive defense and dominating pitching. In the end, when the dust settled, the Eagles stood victorious winning their 11th state title 1-0 over our Redbirds.
While the season ended differently than we all hoped, I could not be more proud of our Redbirds. They fought all season and all game long. They refused to go down without a fight and they left everything they had on the field. I know that everyone is disappointed by the outcome but I am here to tell you that our Redbirds represented themselves, their families, their school, and their community in the best way. I am proud of all of our student-athletes and coaches. Despite the loss, It is a Great Day to be a Redbird!
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