For the past two years the Junior Varsity AISA softball tournament has been known as the Lowndes Academy championship tour.

The Lady Rebels won the title last year and returned to the 2005 tournament bent on defending their crown. That’s just what they did.

In what has been dubbed “the year of dominance” by sources at LA, the Lady Rebs rolled through their opponents from Pike Liberal Arts to the tune of 9-0 and Patrician 8-0. In the first two games of the tournament, the Lady Rebs pitching staff combined for 21 strikeouts en route to their dominating wins. Kaitlyn Barron and Jordan Insinga allowed two hits through the first two rounds of the tournament.

The squad from Lowndesboro then used steady offensive production to blue-collar their way to a 9-2 win over Macon-East Academy.

For Lowndes, the game against the Lady Knights remained 0-0 through four innings but hits from Chelsie Kilpatrick and Kayla Garlock led the offensive attack.

“Chelsie and Kayla Were unbelievable at the plate, combining patience and aggressiveness to lead the offense.”

The Lady Knights from Macon did post a pair of runs, but they were unearned.

Through three games in the tournament, the Lowndes defense posted two errors.

Through the first three games of the tournament, Kilpatrick and racked up a home run, four triples, a pair of doubles and a single. Garlock made sure her name was in the stat column as well by posting six doubles and four singles.

“These girls continue to amaze me,” said Marshall. “I am so proud of these young women, and extremely lucky to have the opportunity to work with such a blessed group of people.”

Marshall said winning the title has been a work in progress for her team.

“When I started working with them in the seventh grade, we always talked about championships. We began in 2002 talking about competing with a swagger and confidence. These girls became that swagger.”

After handily dispatching their first three opponents, the Lady Rebs met the goal that had been set out, to defend their state championship.

In the final game their opponent was a blast from their past.

LA entered the final game with no losses, so their opponents would need to knock them off twice. But the question of who they would face was still in the air.

Macon-East trailed Patrician by a pair of runs late in the game, but an offensive rally by the Lady Knights pushed them into the final.

Their momentum continued through the first inning of the championship game.

Macon-East jumped out to a 9-0 offensive explosion in the first inning of the championship game, so a repeat trip to the winner’s circle was looking in doubt for the Lady Rebs.

“I didn’t really care who won the Macon-East/Patrician game, I just didn’t want an emotional victory from either team,” said Marshall. “My girls never got swayed from their goal. They believed and trusted in each other so much that they knew nine runs wouldn’t be enough to beat us.”

The offensive explosion proved to be all the offense that the Lady Knights could muster throughout the championship game.

Marshall brought in freshman Jessica Ward in order to hold the Lady Knights at bay.

Offensively, the Lady Rebs posted four runs in the first, four in the second and a pair of runs in the fifth inning to tie and take the lead.

With the game tied at 9-9, Sydney Eagerton scored Kilpatrick on a sacrifice fly to the outfield.

“I am so proud of Jessica for stepping up,” said Marshall. “Jessica hasn’t gotten to pitch as much as I would liked this year, but she just pitched the game of her life.”

Marshall is also excited about the play of his team in the final game.

“I will never forget this ninth grade class,” said Marshall. “They are all like my own children and I couldn’t be more proud to be associated with such a classy bunch of young ladies.”

Jordan Insinga was named the Most Outstanding Player for the Championship game while Kilpatrick, Garlock and Kaitlyn Barron were named to the AISA All-Tournament team.