PALESTINE - Woodlawn could never figure out Riverside pitcher Klaire Womack as she pitched a no hitter to lead the Lady Rebels to a 5-0 win over the Lady Bears in the Class 2A state semifinals Saturday afternoon at Palestine-Wheatley High School.Womack and the Lady Rebs have been nearly perfect this season as they advance to the state championship game with a 27-1 record. Their only setback this year was a 13-0 loss to Green County Tech, a team which advanced to the Class 5A state semifinals on Saturday. Woodlawn Coach Synthia English, who was filling in for head coach Kyle Thaxton (see related story this issue), had high praise for Womack."As a junior, she is phenomenal," English said. "Her movement is crazy. You can only do one of two things, you can either scoot up (in the batter's box) and get in close, or you can stay normal… That girl can just swing it. That rising ball is just beautiful." Woodlawn batters did move to the front of the box to get in front of Womack's movement, but English said the pitches were coming too quick to make much contact.Over the first three innings, it looked as though it was going to be a pitching battle between Womack and Lady Bears ace Lilly Faye McWhorter.The only hit over the stretch came from Womack herself when she was sent an 0-2 pitch over the left field fence to give the Lady Rebels a 1-0 lead.As the game wore on, it became evident that McWhorter was starting to struggle. McWhorter was sidelined for the final three weeks of the regular season with a nagging injury. She became active again during the regional tournament, used mostly in relief roles before getting to start in the regional finals. After retiring the first two batters she faced in the fourth inning, McWhorter gave up a walk and then Riverside's Ryley Eakins doubled into right. Both runners end up scoring off a fielding error to give the Lady Rebs a 3-0 lead. McWhorter returned in the fifth inning, and after the leadoff bat...
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