For more photos from Monday’s pregame ceremony, please visit the WEIS Radio Facebook page.

By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

SPRING GARDEN – Just over the center field fence at the Spring Garden softball field is a newly-planted flower bed of yellow lilies and red roses.

But it’s not just an ordinary flower bed in the Garden. It’s dedicated to the memory of sisters Lilly Clair and Libby Rose McCain.

The sisters, both part of the Spring Garden softball program, tragically lost their lives in an automobile accident on Aug. 21, 2025. The accident happened just a few miles up the road from the school.

Lilly was a 2025 Spring Garden graduate and former pitcher for the varsity team. Libby was a sixth grader just realizing her softball potential.

Early on Monday evening, Spring Garden hosted Gaylesville in an area softball game. Prior to the contest, both schools honored their memories in a special pregame ceremony within the pitcher’s circle.

The Lady Trojans, on behalf of the Gaylesville Beta Club, presented the McCain family with a portrait created by artist Tiffany Beal. The Gaylesville Beta Club, under the direction of Spring Garden graduate Kaylee Brannon, chose the portrait as the organization’s major service project for the year.

“It hit home for her, so she was able to get some of the girls together and have that done,” said Gaylesville softball coach Clay Joseph, who himself attends church with the McCain family. “I think it’s great what the beta club did. At the end of the day, softball is a game. Lives were lost, and our hearts go out to them.

“I’m glad both teams were able to go through that ceremony and play hard. Both McCain girls were good softball players. They were hard-nosed players. Maybe we made them proud.”

Following the special presentation, the sisters’ father Ben McCain tossed out the first pitch.

“You want to let the family know we love them and think of them often,” Spring Garden coach Ann Welsh said. “I was glad we were able to do this for them. It just worked out with Gaylesville and their beta club service project. I know that was very touching to them. That was a beautiful picture they had painted.

“I know coming here is probably hard on them (the McCain family). They haven’t been to a game this season until now. We want to keep their memory alive.”

Welsh said she felt the Lady Panthers had “a pep under our step today.” They built a four-run lead after four innings, but Gaylesville rallied to tie the game with a four-run top of the fifth.

However, Spring Garden managed to score what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Maya Jennings delivered a two-out single to right field to score Bella Garmon. Lady Panther pitcher Kendall Birchfield retired the Lady Trojans in order in the top of the seventh to preserve Spring Garden’s 5-4 victory.

“I was thinking the entire day at school it’s a priority to get this win. We needed to for them (the McCain sisters),” Jennings said. “I played ball with Libby. She was always cheering loud and was energetic, and whenever I went to varsity games, I always saw Lilly play.”

Jennings wasn’t the only Lady Panther that energized her team. Olivia Messer blasted a solo home run in the third inning to center field – right over a banner honoring Lilly McCain’s memory.

“I never hit any over there (in center), even when I’m practicing,” Messer said. “I think it’s pretty amazing I hit it straight over center field today.

Like Jennings, Messer said she was familiar with both McCain sisters.

“They were really good sisters,” Messer said. “I didn’t play varsity with Lilly when she was here, but I did play travel ball with Libby. She always tried her hardest. She was a real good ball player. She was always hustling. It was just horrible they both had to leave us.”

The Lady Panthers (7-16) took a 1-0 lead behind a leadoff triple to left by Kylie Bates. She later scored on a single to right center by Paisley Woodall.

Spring Garden extended its lead to 3-0 after scoring a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second.

Following a triple play to get out of a jam in the top of the third inning, Messer led off the bottom of the third with her shot to center.

Gaylesville (6-9) loaded the bases in the top of the fifth. Adalyn Lusk drove in two runs on a fielder’s choice. MaKenlee Young tied the game at 4 with a two-run single to center.

That set the stage for Jennings in the bottom of the sixth.

Garmon struck out to lead off the inning, but reached on an errant throw. She advanced to second on Ava Boatner’s sacrifice bunt. After Bates lined out to short, Jennings smacked a run-scoring single to right.

“Every time I was up at bat, she (Gaylesville pitcher Lydia Reynolds) threw a change up. I was listening to Coach Ann, and the people in the stands were telling me I was casting out my arms. When I listened, I kept my hands in and I just hit a grounder in the gap,” Jennings said.

Birchfield earned the win after going the distance. She allowed four hits and six walks with three strikeouts.

“I was very pleased with the way we played today,” Welsh said. “I didn’t know how we would react. If they can play for something bigger than themselves, and if Libby and Lilly are it, then I’m all for it.”

Reynolds suffered the loss. She allowed all five Lady Panther runs on six hits with three walks (two of them intentionally to Messer) and seven strikeouts.

“We’ve just got to clean up some of the mistakes, some of the errors,” Joseph said. “I felt like we cleaned a lot up from the last time we played them (a 23-12 decision last Tuesday at Gaylesville). We’ve played them in JV and junior high this season and I think each time we’ve gotten better.

“The good thing about it is we’ve got one more against them (in the upcoming area tournament), and it’s the most important one. We’ve got some time off over the next couple of weeks. We’re going to get in the cage, work on some fundamentals and things like that. Really, area (tournament) is all that matters.”