HACKETT, Arkansas — Hackett softball capped off a historic season the best way possible by getting the program's first state title.
"The past years we've been so close," said junior MaKenzie Freeman. "It just felt so good to finally actually finish and actually win."
This season Freeman was setting records of her own in the circle. This season Freeman set a AAA record for shutouts in a season with 19 with six of those being no-hitters and two of those being perfect games.
"She was dominant this year," said head coach Jeff Oxford. "I think a big part of that was just trusting her defense and knowing that if she didn't strike everybody out that the defense was there to back her."
Freeman and her defense were on it during the state title game against Lincoln where she allowed two runs on two hits and punched out seven.
"I wasn't really nervous just because I've been in situations like this in a game and I trusted our team," said Freeman. "I just felt fine."
Freeman has been in this situation before in the fall with volleyball, taking her team far into the state tournament since her freshman year.
"Being able to play in the volleyball state championships the past three years I think has helped with softball just because I've been in like big situations," said Freeman. "We should all feel more relaxed."
Now Freeman and her team can have a relaxing summer knowing they are state champions but that doesn't mean the work stops.
"We need to go with the same goals," said Freeman. "We know that we can do this now. We just want to get back here and win another one because it was so fun doing it so we know we want to do it again."