With the region championship on the line, New Life Christian outplayed Meadowview Christian in a one-sided 15-1 victory. The defeat means Meadowview will host a sub-state playoff game in May, instead of automatically advancing to the state semifinals.

If there is a silver lining, it means the Trojans seniors — Mallory Freine, Shelby Boswell and Tori Smitherman — will get one final chance to play at home, instead of ending their last home game on a sour note.

“They probably would’ve chose to win,” said Meadowview coach Bryan McIntyre with a laugh. “But you’re right, they’ll get one more chance to play on their home field and hopefully we’ll be better and we’ll win that one.”

It was clear early on that Thursday wasn’t Meadowview’s day. New Life scored four runs off of only one hit in the first inning and scored two more in the third thanks to a triple by Haven Owings. By the time Boswell scored on a wild pitch in the fourth, Meadowview trailed 7-1.

“We went over there, made our routine plays and won a game,” McIntyre said of a game against New Life earlier this year. “[Today] one hit in the first inning, we give up four runs. Several bunts turned into triples.”

New Life’s Rachel Poore threw all six innings for the Eagles and was mostly unhittable.

Boswell had a single off of Poore’s leg in the first inning and walked in the fourth, leading to her one score.

The Eagles broke the game open in the sixth with eight runs on three errors.

With the win, New Life advances on to the state semifinals, while Meadowview’s sub-state opponent is not yet known.  The Trojans also still have two regular season games left next week.

Meadowview will play at Tuscaloosa Christian on Monday and at Tabernacle Christian on Thursday.