For the third straight year, the county softball tournament’s first place trophy will take up residence on Lookout Mountain for approximately 365 days.

Much as it had for the past two seasons, Sand Rock (28-15) relied on Taylor Burt’s overpowering pitching and some solid offense to claim the title.

Burt pitched every inning of the No. 7 Lady Wildcats’ three victories, spearheading one win over Gaylesville and two over Spring Garden en route to earning the Tournament MVP award.

Playing in cold and rainy conditions in the championship game, the No. 1 seeded Lady Rockers had enough heat left in reserve to post a 9-1 victory over the No. 2 seeded Lady Panthers.

Sand Rock opened with a 7-0 win over the Lady Trojans before eking out a 1-0 triumph in eight innings over Spring Garden in the winners bracket semifinals.

Burt fanned 16 batters in a one-hit effort against Gaylesville.

Spring Garden began the tournament with a 7-3 win over CCHS before a 1-0 loss to the Lady Wildcats sent the Lady Panthers to the losers’ bracket.

Spring Garden rebounded with a 14-13 victory over the Lady Warriors in the loser semifinals.

Trailing the hosts 12-5 in the fourth inning, the Lady Panthers scored seven un-answered runs before CCHS took a one-run lead in the top of the sixth inning.

Spring Garden gained a berth in the title game in style, as Twyla Haggermaker’s two-run home run in the bottom of the inning ended the game on the time-limit rule.

The Lady Warriors shook off their opening loss to the Lady Panthers with an 11-8 victory over Cedar Bluff and a 7-1 win over Gaylesville.

The Lady Trojans began the tournament with an 11-1 win over Cedar Bluff.

In five innings, winning pitcher Jennifer Aldridge struck out five while allowing one hit, one run and no walks.

For Gaylesville, Robbie Shelton went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Amber Moseley went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Aldridge went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Monique Watwood went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Tiffany Haney went 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Sloane Brewster went 1-for-3 with two runs scored.

Caitlin Cavin went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Cavin got the only hit against Sand Rock.

Against CCHS, Aldridge went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Cavin went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Burt held Spring Garden in check early on in the title game, as the junior hurler struck out the first eight Lady Panther batters.

As the visiting team, Sand Rock opened the scoring in the top of the third.

Amy Crane reached base on a one-out double and came home on Ashley Beck’s single, while Tiffany Palmer’s base hit drove in Beck for a 2-0 Lady Wildcat lead.

Sand Rock made it a four-run advantage in the fourth.

Singles by Ashley Adams and Burt set up Jennifer Givens’ sacrifice fly, and Burt scored on an error later in the inning.

Spring Garden drew within three runs in the bottom of the inning when Brittany Heath’s base hit plated Jessica Wall, but the Lady ‘Cats widened the gap in the top of the fifth.

Chelsi Oliver, Adams, Burt, Givens and Crane each rounded the bases to push Sand Rock’s advantage to 9-1.

Burt retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning, but Spring Garden tested the Lady Wildcats’ finishing ability by putting together a two-out, base-loaded situation in the bottom of the sixth.

Burt quickly snuffed out the rally, however, as she in-duced a fly-out to end the in-ning.

That was the Lady Panthers last stand, as Burt sent Spring Garden down in order in the seventh to secure the victory.

“We had a slow start [to the tournament], and Spring Garden really gave us a run in both games,” said Sand Rock head coach Brad Burt. “We eventually got in there and did the things we needed to do. Overall, our pitching, hitting and defense were very good today. Taylor only gave up four hits in three games, so she really came through for us.”

In seven innings, Burt fanned 10 while allowing two hits, one run and two walks.

Beck went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Crane went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Angelique Kordich and Lauren Bramblett each went 1-for-1, while Burt had a hit and two runs scored.

Givens, Palmer and Kaci Reeves each had a hit.

Erica Smith had Spring Garden’s other hit.

For CCHS in the tournament, Rachel Hale went 8-for-15 with seven RBIs; Mimi Williams went 7-for-14 with six RBIs; Krystyn Headricks went 8-for-14 with four RBIs; Beth Roberts went 6-for-14; and Kara Bowman went 6-for-13.

Joining Burt on the All-Tournament team were Sand Rock’s Amy Crane and Ashley Beck; Spring Garden’s Twyla Haggermaker and Jessica Preston; Cherokee County’s Rachel Hale and Mimi Williams; Gaylesville’s Jennifer Aldridge and Sloane Brewster; and Cedar Bluff’s Megan Adams