At the ACC softball championship at Georgia Tech, a state softball reunion broke out.
"It just reminds me of club ball," said outfielder Morgan Bullock of victorious Florida State and Mill Creek High. "The entire time I was just, like, ‘yeah, I'm friends with you,' or, ‘yeah, in high school we played each other.' It's fun."
Sunday at Tech's Mewborn Field, the Seminoles defeated North Carolina 4-1 to claim their 11th ACC title and first since 2004. In the starting lineup for the losing Tar Heels were four players from metro Atlanta, including standout freshman pitcher Lori Spingola from Marist.
"To come back home and win is comforting," Bullock said.
On an overcast, breezy afternoon where hoodies and windbreakers were appropriate attire, Bullock helped the Seminoles' cause with a bunt hit in the second inning against Spingola, who no-hit Boston College in the quarterfinal Friday and defeated Maryland with a complete game Saturday in the semifinal. Bullock scored two batters later on a double by Courtney Senas for Florida State's second run.
Seminoles pitcher Sarah Hamilton tossed a complete game, allowing just three hits. Florida State, which earned an automatic NCAA tournament bid, may have needed to win the ACC title to make its 12th consecutive NCAA appearance.
While the title game was without the host Yellow Jackets, which came into the tournament as the No. 1 seed but were upset by No. 8 seed Virginia, the day was a celebration of softball in the state.
It was the first ACC tournament ever held at Tech, which opened Mewborn Field in 2009. Playing for the Tar Heels besides Spingola were first baseman Haleigh Dickey (Etowah High), shortstop Logan Foulks (Alexander High) and left fielder Kelli Wheeler (Lassiter High). Foulks, Spingola and Wheeler made the all-tournament team.
Late Sunday night, Georgia, Georgia State and Tech all learned where the NCAA would send them for the tournament. The Panthers will play in their second NCAA tournament after winning their first-ever Colonial Athletic Association title Friday.
"I think Georgia, honestly, in the Southeast has the best talent pool over Florida, in my opinion, from what I've been able to recruit," North Carolina coach Donna Papa said. "This whole Atlanta metro area is really outstanding with the talent that they have."
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