The mark of a team’s character is its ability to win despite adversity.
Heading into Thursday’s 5A slowpitch opening round playoff game against visiting Long Beach, McComb seemed to have more than their share of troubles before the first game.
McComb was without the services of its starting pitcher and dealing with injuries and illness.
Despite all that, McComb advanced to Saturday’s second round by taking two of three games. McComb won the third and decisive game 10-7. MHS won the opener 15-5 in five innings, but dropped the second game 9-7.
McComb travels to Moss Point on Saturday for the second round.
“I am extremely proud of this team,” McComb coach Cody Hall said. “They have had so much to deal with this week. When we had to find a pitcher, Reneka (Felder) stepped up and did a great job. It was her first time to ever pitch in her life. She helped us win the series.”
That wasn’t the only first for a Tiger. Shortstop Katie Kalusche belted her first home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning of the opener.
The deciding game was like watching a seven-round boxing match with both fighters landing punches.
McComb landed the first blow. Raven Tucker, Felder and Kamry Creel belted out three straight hits to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
McComb added another run in the second for a 3-0 lead.
In the third, Long Beach scored four runs on three errors and two hits for a 4-3 lead and then took a 6-5 lead in the fourth before McComb’s final push.
Paige Brock led off with a single. Bre’Ann Talbert had an RBI double and Tucker followed with an RBI single.
MHS added a run in the fifth for a 8-6 lead. Bethany Davis’ double scored Kalusche, who had singled.
In dramatic fashion, the Tigers TKO’d the Bearcats in the sixth. Tucker belted a two-run homer to seal the game.
For MHS offensively, Felder doubled, singled and homered. Tucker and Talbert had two doubles and a single. Brock had two singles and a double. Creel, Kalusche and Kaylin Coney had two singles.
In the first two games, Talbert led McComb with a combined seven hits. Creel and Coney added five and Kalucshe had four hits, including the home home.
