Sophomore Charde Huntington hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning to help the Mountain Home softball team to a 2-1 win over Kuna in the 4A District Three title game Thursday.
It was the second straight district championship for the Tigers (21-2), who earned the district's top seed in next week's state tournament.
Mountain Home will play the District Four-Five runner-up at 3 p.m. Thursday at Twin Falls High.
Kuna (17-7) draws a first-round matchup with the District Six champion.
"The whole at-bat I would have to say was really nerve-racking," Huntington said. "Extra innings, we had a runner on third, I knew I had to get my job done."
Huntington's hit took a tough bounce to center field, and sophomore Lindsay Sessions crossed home plate as the Mountain Home crowd erupted.
"I like running bases, so that was fun," Sessions said. "I just knew that we really wanted this and I just had to get in."
After the game, first-year head coach Chris Asbury dedicated the win - and the Tigers' season - to former head coach Joy Memmelaar, who died of ovarian cancer on Nov. 7.
"We all did it for Mem, and that's why we were so emotional," sophomore pitcher Nickayla Skinner said. "We just fought hard for her."
Skinner earned the win for the Tigers, striking out 14 with no walks and five hits.
Kuna scored its lone run in the top of the first inning when shortstop Delphine Arizana drove in Ashli Hughes on a double to left field. Hughes led off the game with a single.
Skinner said the early score put her on edge, but made the win all the more exciting.
"I felt nervous, I wanted to puke," Skinner said. "That's how it is. As a pitcher I have to deal with that.
"Now I'm just excited. I can't even describe the emotions."
EMMETT 10, MIDDLETON 0 (5)
Emmett (20-7) advanced to the state tournament with a win over Middleton (8-18) on Thursday afternoon at Bishop Kelly.
The Huskies will open the state tournament against the District Four-Five champion at 5 p.m. Thursday.
The Vikings were eliminated with the loss.
