CHIPOLA WINS STATE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

The Chipola Lady Indians captured the 2010 FCCAA State and Region VIII Championship with a 14-0 win over Miami-Dade on May 2.
Chipola, which beat State College of Florida for the second time in two days by the final 13-8 to capture the FCCAA Gulf District Championship and is ranked third in the country, will now advance to the NJCAA National Tournament in St. George, Utah.
From an outstanding pitching performance all day from Brittany Black, Emma Stevenson, and Skylar Davis, the Lady Indians were finally able to connect with the bats in the final day; 20 hits in game one versus State College of Florida and 18 against FCCAA Atlanta District Champion, Miami-Dade.
“I am extremely proud of our team and how we have fought all year long through adversity,” said Coach Belinda Hendrix. “At the beginning of the season, nobody thought we would compete for the conference title and make a run at the state title.”
“To now have the opportunity to compete in the National Tournament in Utah, it says a great deal about the character and the heart of our team.”
Chipola’s road to victory in the state tournament was paved with victories against South Florida (4-2), St. Petersburg (4-3), State College of Florida (7-4 & 13-8), and Miami-Dade (14-0).
In the Miami-Dade game, Chipola was led by Andrea Sullivan, who had three hits, three runs, five RBIs, two walks, and two homeruns in three at bats. Sullivan was named NJCAA Region VIII Tournament Most Valuable Player and batted .667 for the tournament, 10 for 16.
Joining Sullivan in the hit parade was teammates Kellie Todd, four hits and four RBIs; Michelle Hewett, three hits and two runs; Dana Cauthen, three hits and three runs.
Pitcher Emma Stevenson pitched a complete game shutout by allowing only six runs, one walk, and four strikeouts on 100 pitches.
In her sixth season at the helm of the Lady Indians program, coach Belinda Hendrix had 10 players on the Panhandle All-Conference team, including catcher Kellie Todd, Conference Player of the Year, and Emma Stevenson, Conference Pitcher of the Year.
The Lady Indians won the Panhandle Conference championship this year, and in 2008 and 2007. Chipola finished fifth in the 2009 State Tournament. The team captured the state and national championships in 2007.