The Dade County Lady Wolverine softball team became the Cinderella of the state tournament this past week when they surprised everyone and came home with the AA State Championship.

The Lady Wolverines were expected to make a serious run at the State Championship next year as the junior laden team was looking to gain valuable tournament experience this year.

That changed quickly as the Lady Wolverines opened with an impressive win over Harlem 6-0. Madison Gossett pitched a no hitter, striking out 16 and setting the tone for the rest of the tournament.

The Lady Wolverine win also snapped a 19 game winning streak by Harlem.

Madison Lacy had the big bat in that first game picking up three hits and two RBI’s.

The Lady Wolverines then faced Bremen and Gossett followed her stellar performance of game one with a 12 strikeout, three hitter against the Blue Devils.

Carly Stephens led the Lady Wolverines with a pair of home runs and three RBI’s. Lacy also had a pair of hits in the game and Cari Pierce also had an RBI.

On Friday afternoon Dade faced Wesleyan in the winner’s bracket final and it turned out to be one of the best games of the tournament.

Gossett again pitched an outstanding game with 16 strikeouts but heading into the bottom of the seventh inning the score was tied 2-2.

Pierce reached base in the bottom of the seventh and Sydney Vaughan made a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Pierce up and two Wesleyan errors allowed Pierce to score the winning run.

The huge win put the Lady Wolverines in the driver’s seat as they waited on the winner of the loser’s bracket for the Saturday championship games.

As luck would have it Wesleyan would defeat Heard County on Saturday morning setting up a rematch for the championship. Wesleyan needed to defeat the Lady Wolverines twice to claim the title while only one win by the Lady Wolverines was needed to claim the title.

In the first game it was back and forth with each team coming up with big plays and timely hits.

But in the end Wesleyan got the breaks in the final inning after Dade made an error that allowed Wesleyan to score. Wesleyan came away with a hard fought 8-7 win to force a winner take all game.

Gossett had another big game striking out 11 and Hailey Gass had three hits and scored a pair of runs.

Lacy had a home run and five RBI’s in the game and Stephens, Gossett and Summer Stevens all had a pair of hits.

The state championship game was another nail-bitter as the two teams battled each other hard every inning.

Going into the seventh inning the Lady Wolverines held a 4-2 lead with Wesleyan being the home team and having the final at bat.

The Lady Wolverines loaded the bases and Gass hit a grand slam home run to seal the win 8-4. It was Gass’ first home run and what a big one it was.

Wesleyan would hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh but the Lady Wolverines had their second State Championship with the 8-3 win.

The Lady Wolverines had claimed the title in 2004.

Gossett had a stellar tournament recording 55 strikeouts in five games and finished the season with 355.

The long ball was good to the Lady Wolverines as well as Lacy and Stephens had multiple home runs to go along with Gass’ grand slam.

The Lady Wolverines finish the season with a 22-13 record and the second AA Softball State Championship in school history.

Congratulations to the Lady Wolverines and Coaches Summer Sigler and Christine Core on a great season.

The Lady Wolverines return all but one starter for next year so the future looks very bright.

The Lady Wolverines will be recognized during Thursday night's Dade County Commission meeting and at Friday's football game.