Oxford, AL – After a rainstorm and generously escorted Athens athletes to the Oxford gymnasium for Thursday’s graduation ceremony. Oxford graduated Kidd saw her daughter hit a the walk-off home run during a state-tourney game
By Joe Medley
There’s no joy in a state-tournament elimination game, but only relief for the winner and sorrow on the side that loses.
There was sadness on Oxford’s part following losing 15-4 in the game against Athens at a time which was moved to Friday, and then moved to Choccolocco Park to Oxford Lake Park because of the rainy weather. The grief was mixed with pride however, when tears ran down the side of the veteran Oxford Coach Wendy McKibbin’s sunglasses.
Oxford (31-12) was able to make its return to state for the very first time in the tournament since the place in the runner-up race in 2016, when the state championship was held in Montgomery. Sixth-ranked Yellow Jackets got to play the tournament in their home town this time around.
It’s not enough to cover how they fought for to win one of the three games of the tournament that doubles as a double elimination. The list begins with the superstar pitcher Berkley Mooney’s injury to her hamstring, that she aggravated in the Thursday game.
Atypically not arousing, McKibbin had a lot to say and her words flowed in quick and swift succession.
“What an amazing run,” McKibbin said. “From one year ago we completely turned our program around. We had 11 players who joined our varsity team in January. We saw two senior players step in to take on everything they could and showed the determination. We were fortunate to have four or five players who were injured today as well, and the time they played with us, they did all they could physically do.In their hearts and soul, they never gave up. Every single inning, we’re striving to give everything we have.
“We’re likely to come out okay. Every single player on this team will be a successful young woman and they’re going well in their lives however, we’ll be back. It’s coming back.”
Mooney, one of the juniors who made a commitment to Montevallo during the season and was diagnosed with a hamstring injury in her push-off leg began Wednesday in practice and continued into Thursday, in which Oxford was beaten by Wetumpka, ranked top of the list 1-1 and defeated No. 5 Helena 7-3.
“Yesterday I threw in my first pitch and it was a little soft,” she said. “I started pitching in the second after which I returned on a pitch and sort of felt it.
“I attempted (to go on Friday) but it did not work.”
Joy and relief were felt at both sides of the Athens side, fueled through Oxford connections and the generosity of others.
Athens seniors took their place on the graduation line on Thursday night on the Oxford’s Larry Davidson Court. Davidson the who has been Oxford’s sports director for a long time was gracious after rain disrupted Athens plans for a short, low-key ceremony on the field of Choccolocco Park, after the scheduled 4 p.m. game against Oxford.
Trachell Westbrook Kidd Trachell Westbrook Kidd, one of the 2001 Oxford graduate, beams with pride while watching her daughter Kristin Kidd get her degree on her old school’s home turf.
“We were devastated all week long, thinking about her having to decide between walking or going to the state,” said Tachell Kidd herself, who describes herself as a “band geek” that played the clarinet at high school. “She’s been working for the past since just 8 years old. And of course, everyone wants to walk across that stage.”
Athens head coach Travis Barnes settled the dilemma by arranging the ceremony on the field in Choccolocco Park. As rain prevented the possibility the family and friends jumped action. Tim Smith-Lindsey, a friend of the family, called and was able to connect him with Davidson.
The idea of a celebration at the Oxford High Sports Arena hatched out of there.
“I began texting my family, for example, ‘Be in the gym by 8:30! Get there by 8:30″” Trachell Kidd said. “It worked perfectly.”
With gowns and caps on, seven seniors graduating were seated at midcourt just to the left of an award table, adorned by the Oxford cover.
Tachell Kidd said that watching her daughter graduate from Oxford’s gymnasium “the greatest feeling you can get.”
“We left at the age of 1 year young,” Trachell Kidd said. “She was celebrating her first birthday celebration in the park, then we left, and didn’t have plans of coming back.
“It was a bit emotional to see the way it turned out she had her graduation ceremony in the same place that her mother went to school.”
As if the situation couldn’t turn out more smoothly in the case of Kidds, Kristin Kidd hit the game-ending homer against Oxford.
With the score 13-3 at the start of the fifth inning Oxford scored one run to put off the run rule end. This meant that Kristin Kidd who was playing at first base, would have the chance to hit in the lower portion of the fifth.
She was able to find runners on the field and pushed her ball over the left-center fence.
The girl did it in the presence of her family, including cousin Gabby Lindsey who was the quarterback of Oxford’s football flag team in a class 6A second place finishing in the autumn.
When Kristin Kidd watched the ball fly across the barrier, “I got emotional,” she told reporters. “I did not know how to react. I was thinking”Wow, I did it!.’
“I did it in front of the school of my mommy as well as in the presence of the entire of my family members and then I demonstrated to them the way it’s done in Athens.”
It was a memorable moment for the Kidds who emigrated to the Athens region out of Tupelo, Miss., during Kristin’s junior year. Kristin was through a transition period.
“I could not help but weep and cry to see her win the game with a homer” Trachell Kidd said. “She required to do that.”
