Trailing by 5-2 after five innings to first-seeded Carrollton in the Class 2 District 8 championship on Monday, the Harrisburg Lady Bulldogs rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth to tie the score at 5-5. But the Lady Trojans exploded for six runs with a grand slam in the bottom of the inning to eventually claim their third straight district title, 11-5.

It was Harrisburg’s first district title game since claiming the championship in 2020, and the first under coach Kendra Murphy in her first year at Harrisburg.

The Bulldogs finish an outstanding season 26-10 overall and had won 11 straight games leading up to Monday’s championship in Huntsville.

Harrisburg ace Camryn Gray took the loss for the Bulldogs after allowing eight runs (7 earned) off eight hits with two walks and a game-high eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings in the circle. Jillian Stidham mopped up the final two outs, allowing three runs (2 earned) and a walk.

Harrisburg combined for eight hits, four of which went for extra bases. Junior Brette Ackman led the way with a home run and a double in a 2-for-3 performance with two runs scored and an RBI. Beth Creamer and Gray both doubled. Gray went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Stidham, Carly Ott, and Isabelle DeMuth each singled.

Carrollton junior Ava Porciello led all hitters with six RBI, including a sixth-inning grand slam to put the game out of reach.

Harrisburg bids farewell to five seniors: Creamer, Bradey Simpson, Lena Crutchfield, and Aidyn Burt.

Carrollton, which won the state title two years ago, will advance to the state quarterfinals to face the eventual District 7 champion on Saturday. District 7 semifinal games were cancelled for Monday night. The championship was originally scheduled to be played on Tuesday after the Advertiser went to press.