Liberty Creek High School's softball team made history by claiming their second consecutive TSSAA Class 2A state championship. The Wolves, led by the phenomenal pitching of Kaylor West, defeated Alcoa 7-1 in a thrilling final match held at Middle Tennessee State University. While last year's championship win featured a perfect game from West, this year's victory was a testament to her resilience and adaptability. The pressure to repeat their previous year's success was palpable. The team, along with West herself, grappled with the weight of expectation. A first-inning bunt single by Alcoa broke the tension, allowing West and her coach, Kelsey Cartwright, to refocus on the game at hand. Cartwright's encouraging words, emphasizing the rarity of perfect games, helped West shift her perspective. The pressure relieved, West delivered a masterful performance, scattering five hits and striking out three batters. This year's championship game was different from last year's perfect game victory. Alcoa's offense struggled against West's fastball, resulting in many ground balls and minimal penetration into the outfield. The Wolves' offense provided strong support with contributions from junior Hailey Langston (2-for-3 with an RBI), Maddie Floyd (three hits), and Hope Marlar (an RBI triple). Liberty Creek concluded their season with an impressive 32-2 record. Coach Cartwright highlighted the increased challenge of defending a title, noting that the team's success was even more significant given the heightened expectations. She praised her team's dedication and performance, pointing to their impressive 28-0 record against Tennessee opponents, their only losses coming against two highly ranked Kentucky teams earlier in the season. The win marks Liberty Creek's first multiple team state titles in school history. West expressed her satisfaction with the team's overall performance, emphasizing that winning was the primary objective. She acknowledged the team's pressure to perform but celebrated their undefeated record throughout the state tournament. The victory is a crowning achievement for the team, and a testament to the dedication, skill, and resilience of the players and coaching staff. The success is further highlighted by the transfer contributions of Ce’Mya Gregory and Kiki Belcher, former Beech players, who made significant contributions to the team’s run to the finals. Coach Cartwright’s experience, playing in six consecutive state championship-winning teams during her high school career, provided valuable insight and leadership. Her coaching philosophy, honed by her playing days at Goodpasture and collegiate experiences at Auburn and Lipscomb Academy, proved instrumental in guiding the team to victory. The victory represents not only an individual achievement for West but also a testament to the collective strength, dedication, and exceptional coaching of Liberty Creek's softball team.