Barnwell Angels All-Star head coach Mark Still emphasized to his team throughout the Dixie District 4 tournament how every player is counted on is they had hopes of winning a championship.

For Barnwell, several players stood out in the team's first three victories, including Alyssa Still, Kyra Shuler, Leslie Yearry, Kelci Brown, Hannah Creech, Hannah Wise, Rachael Creech, Lindley Still, Makenzie Anderson, Kansas Googe and Sommer Gibson.

On Thursday in the finals against Prosperity, it was Makayla Anderson turned to shine.

Needing a victory to secure a berth in the Dixie State finals, Barnwell trailed Prosperity 7-6 going into its last at-bat.

With two outs and runners and first and third, all hopes for Barnwell were on the bat of Makayla Anderson. After taking the first pitch for a strike, Anderson delivered on her next swing with a liner through right field gap. The hit scored Wise and Googe for the victory.

An ecstatic Anderson said she was happy to come through for her team.

"I've been waiting on the right pitch all tournament - and today I got the one I wanted," Anderson said. "I just reared back and put the power to the ball."

Anderson was one of Barnwell's top batters with two of the team's 12 hits in the contest.

"I knew in order for us to win everyone had to step up one way or another," Still said. "Today it was Makayla and she did a terrific job. We needed a big hit and she delivered. I'm very proud of her as well as the rest of the team."

On the mound, Barnwell got solid pitching from Lindley Still and Rachael "R.C. Cola" Creech. The duo combined to throw a six-hitter with seven strikeouts.

Still, who led with five strikeouts, said it was a huge win for the team.

"Wow, we won it and now we're going to state," Still said. "It was a very close game, but I'm glad we won. I thought I threw well with the fast ball being my best pitch."

Barnwell defeated Prosperity two games in a three-game series for the title.

For the tournament, Barnwell finished with a 4-0 record and advances to play in the state tournament July 10 in Columbia.

Things started out rough for Barnwell in the title game as they fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning.

However, Barnwell answered in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs off three hits to tie the game at 2-2.

For Barnwell, Brown and Shuler reached on singles. Wise brought both runners in with an RBI double.

Trailing 3-2 in the second inning, Barnwell tied the score again when Makayla Anderson singled and scored off a double by Lindley Still.

Prosperity surged ahead in the third inning with three runs off two hits and two errors for a 6-3 advantage.

Down by three runs, Barnwell rallied. In the third inning, Shuler walked, stole second, then scored off a hit by Hannah Creech.

One inning later, Makenzie Anderson and Yearry reached on singles. Anderson scored off a sacrifice by Creech. Yearry scored off a single by Gibson to cut the lead to 7-6.

The score remained the same until the sixth inning when Barnwell plated two runs for the victory.