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Carolina Lookouts make softball history; team wins second straight national title
Staff Reports
PANAMA CITY, Fla. — The Carolina Lookouts made fastpitch history by being the first team to win the United States Fastpitch Association World Series two years in a row. The Lookouts won it all last year as a 16-and-under team, and went back to win the title again as an 18-and-under team.
Before the Lookouts’ victory, no team had even won the championship twice, let alone in back-to-back years.
The Lookouts stormed through pool play undefeated, and the team went to Grandma’s Cake Recipe.
The recipe calls for a little bit of finesse followed by a little heat.
Coach Greg Bissette says the team starts curve-ball specialist Tyler Riggan to get the opponents’ bats conditioned a certain way, then fireballer Charity Watson comes on to wrap things up.
“With Tyler’s junk pitches, we are able to keep the batters off balance,” Lookouts coach Greg Bissette said. “Then when we switch to Charity’s speed, it just gives them a different look and really keeps them guessing by trying to adjust.”
The Lookouts first elimination game pitted them against the Jacksonville (Fla) Storm, and, before they knew it, they were down 1-0.
“A loss in the first game sends you to the loser’s bracket immediately and you have to fight tooth-and-nail every day to try to get back to the championship game,” Bissette said, remembering the early deficit. “It’s an uphill battle all the way and almost impossible.”
The Lookouts tied to game, forcing extra innings, and won 3-1 to advance.
“That was too close for comfort,” Bissette said. “Close as it was, it was a good way to set the tone for the week for the level of play that would be needed to make it all the way to the championship.”
From there, the Lookouts tore through bracket play, and stood one win away from the championship round.
A team from Tennessee also came in with an undefeated record, and the Lookouts were quickly down 4-0. The Lookout staged a comeback, but fell short in a 4-3 loss.
“That was a tough loss,” coach Kim Knox said. “It put us in the loser’s bracket. We were in shock at the loss. That was only the third bracket game we had lost all year and we should not have lost that.”
The Lookouts needed to win the one loser’s bracket game and go to the championship round.
For the first time in the tournament, the Lookouts were in a win-or-go-home situation. After a 4-0 win, the Lookouts were on to the championship round — and a rematch with the same Tennessee team which had handed then their only loss. Already holding one loss, the Lookouts needed to win twice to gain the championship.
In the first game, Meredith Knox belted a two-run home run as part of a five-run inning. The runs were plenty to win the game, as the Lookouts’ defense shut out Tennessee.
In the championship game, both coaches knew it was time to go back to Grandma’s Cake Recipe.
Riggan and the Lookouts’ defense, highlighted by Tara Stancill, did a great job and held the Tennessee team scoreless for four innings.
At the end of fourth inning, Riggan went to Bissette and told him it was time to being in Watson.
“I respect Tyler’s judgment, Bissette said. “She is a senior pitcher headed to the college ranks this fall. She has a great head on her shoulders for the game and what needs to happen during the game. She is a great asset.”
Watson entered in the fifth inning, and the Lookouts’ pitching and defense held their opponents scoreless.
The only problem — the Lookouts had not scored either.
At the end of regulation, the deadlock meant there would be an international tie breaker until there was a winner. An international tie breaker is when each team on offense starts with their last batted out from the previous inning on second base.
Fortunately for the Lookouts, they would start with Lauren Howard on second base.
“Lauren has a great deal of speed and is a very smart player,” coach Bissette said.
Brittny Bissette, the fastest player on the team, was up to bat. She bunted, and moved Howard to third perfectly. Things got even better as Brittny Bissette beat the throw and was safe at first. She then stole second, and the Lookouts had two runners in scoring position.
Mary Drew hit a line drive to center to score in one run. The single run proved plenty as Watson closed out the game.
The last out was recorded on what could only be described as an “amazing” catch by Brittny Bissette in shallow right-center.
“It was such a rush knowing we were only 3, then 2 , then only 1 more out to being the first team to actually win the world series two years in a row,” Brittny Bissette said after the game. “It really got your adrenaline flowing for about a week straight. Between the great coaching, the awesome players, the great camaraderie between the parents and the team, playing in the World Series and actually being the only team to win it two years in a row was truly an experience to remember.”
Everyone had quite an experience at the World Series,” coach Bissette said. “I know that myself and my family did. It was great to see Tyler Riggan hit her first home run ever and it was at the World Series. Meredith Knox followed up last year’s World Series home run with another one in the championship game. Marissa Fucito added a home run of her own this year. It was awesome to see my daughter Brittny catch the last out of the game.”
Both coaches and players are set for a third shot at the title next summer. The Lookouts have five players that will continue their softball careers in college this fall. Meredith Knox will play for Anderson University; Tara Stancill, Mary Drew, Lindsay Shaw and Tyler Riggan will play at Louisburg College.
Before the Lookouts’ victory, no team had even won the championship twice, let alone in back-to-back years.
The Lookouts stormed through pool play undefeated, and the team went to Grandma’s Cake Recipe.
The recipe calls for a little bit of finesse followed by a little heat.
Coach Greg Bissette says the team starts curve-ball specialist Tyler Riggan to get the opponents’ bats conditioned a certain way, then fireballer Charity Watson comes on to wrap things up.
“With Tyler’s junk pitches, we are able to keep the batters off balance,” Lookouts coach Greg Bissette said. “Then when we switch to Charity’s speed, it just gives them a different look and really keeps them guessing by trying to adjust.”
The Lookouts first elimination game pitted them against the Jacksonville (Fla) Storm, and, before they knew it, they were down 1-0.
“A loss in the first game sends you to the loser’s bracket immediately and you have to fight tooth-and-nail every day to try to get back to the championship game,” Bissette said, remembering the early deficit. “It’s an uphill battle all the way and almost impossible.”
The Lookouts tied to game, forcing extra innings, and won 3-1 to advance.
“That was too close for comfort,” Bissette said. “Close as it was, it was a good way to set the tone for the week for the level of play that would be needed to make it all the way to the championship.”
From there, the Lookouts tore through bracket play, and stood one win away from the championship round.
A team from Tennessee also came in with an undefeated record, and the Lookouts were quickly down 4-0. The Lookout staged a comeback, but fell short in a 4-3 loss.
“That was a tough loss,” coach Kim Knox said. “It put us in the loser’s bracket. We were in shock at the loss. That was only the third bracket game we had lost all year and we should not have lost that.”
The Lookouts needed to win the one loser’s bracket game and go to the championship round.
For the first time in the tournament, the Lookouts were in a win-or-go-home situation. After a 4-0 win, the Lookouts were on to the championship round — and a rematch with the same Tennessee team which had handed then their only loss. Already holding one loss, the Lookouts needed to win twice to gain the championship.
In the first game, Meredith Knox belted a two-run home run as part of a five-run inning. The runs were plenty to win the game, as the Lookouts’ defense shut out Tennessee.
In the championship game, both coaches knew it was time to go back to Grandma’s Cake Recipe.
Riggan and the Lookouts’ defense, highlighted by Tara Stancill, did a great job and held the Tennessee team scoreless for four innings.
At the end of fourth inning, Riggan went to Bissette and told him it was time to being in Watson.
“I respect Tyler’s judgment, Bissette said. “She is a senior pitcher headed to the college ranks this fall. She has a great head on her shoulders for the game and what needs to happen during the game. She is a great asset.”
Watson entered in the fifth inning, and the Lookouts’ pitching and defense held their opponents scoreless.
The only problem — the Lookouts had not scored either.
At the end of regulation, the deadlock meant there would be an international tie breaker until there was a winner. An international tie breaker is when each team on offense starts with their last batted out from the previous inning on second base.
Fortunately for the Lookouts, they would start with Lauren Howard on second base.
“Lauren has a great deal of speed and is a very smart player,” coach Bissette said.
Brittny Bissette, the fastest player on the team, was up to bat. She bunted, and moved Howard to third perfectly. Things got even better as Brittny Bissette beat the throw and was safe at first. She then stole second, and the Lookouts had two runners in scoring position.
Mary Drew hit a line drive to center to score in one run. The single run proved plenty as Watson closed out the game.
The last out was recorded on what could only be described as an “amazing” catch by Brittny Bissette in shallow right-center.
“It was such a rush knowing we were only 3, then 2 , then only 1 more out to being the first team to actually win the world series two years in a row,” Brittny Bissette said after the game. “It really got your adrenaline flowing for about a week straight. Between the great coaching, the awesome players, the great camaraderie between the parents and the team, playing in the World Series and actually being the only team to win it two years in a row was truly an experience to remember.”
Everyone had quite an experience at the World Series,” coach Bissette said. “I know that myself and my family did. It was great to see Tyler Riggan hit her first home run ever and it was at the World Series. Meredith Knox followed up last year’s World Series home run with another one in the championship game. Marissa Fucito added a home run of her own this year. It was awesome to see my daughter Brittny catch the last out of the game.”
Both coaches and players are set for a third shot at the title next summer. The Lookouts have five players that will continue their softball careers in college this fall. Meredith Knox will play for Anderson University; Tara Stancill, Mary Drew, Lindsay Shaw and Tyler Riggan will play at Louisburg College.
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