Northview’s Gilmore hits walk-off single in Tuesday to send Lady Chiefs to district championship game

Published 10:45 pm Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Northview’s Emma Gilmore hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning to help lead the Lady Chiefs to a 6-5 victory over Paxton, Fla. tonight in a FHSAA Class 1A, District 1 semifinal.

Gilmore’s game-winning hit came on 3-and-0 count with two on and two outs. Keeli Knighten reached on a walk, and Makayla Golson reached on an error.

With the victory, the Lady Chiefs (14-12) advance to play Jay, Fla. Thursday night in the district championship. First pitch at NHS is at 7 p.m.

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Paxton trailed 4-0 going into the top of the fifth inning, but the Lady Bobcats put on three runs to keep the game honest.

The visiting team added two runs in the top of the sixth to take a one-run lead.

Northview answered in the bottom half of the sixth on a Jamison Gilman RBI single to tie the game back up at 5-all.

PHS played good defense in the bottom half of the seventh inning, getting the final two outs on an infield fly with two on and a tag at home.

Gilman was clutch in the tying hit, and inside the circle. She earned the win, striking out three and allowing one hit in 2.0 innings.

Gilmore went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run to lead NHS; Gilman went 2-for-4 with an RBI; and Mary-Clayton Dawson went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

MacKenzie Peels went 2-for-2 with two runs to lead PHS.

In baseball action, the Chiefs defeated Central, Fla. 9-0 in the district semifinal at Jay.

The Chiefs advance to play JHS Thursday night at 7 in Jay.

Cason Burkett went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs; and Josh Landis went 1-for-2 with three RBIs to lead NHS.

Northview’s Jamarkus Jefferson earned the win on the mound, striking out one and allowing no hits, no runs and three walks in 2.0 innings. Burkett, Kaden Odom and Grayden Sheffield pitched in the shutout.

The baseball team also were present for the girls’ semifinal win over Paxton.