No. 1 Louisburg Softball was crowned Region X Champions on Sunday after a 2-1 win over No. 2 USC Salkehatchie. 

Going into Sunday the Canes (35-6) were 3-1 against Salkehatchie (17-28) during the regular season. The Indians were the only team to defeat Louisburg during conference play. Salkehatchie fell into the losers' bracket on the first day of the tournament falling to Harford 3-2. 

Louisburg defeated the Region X defending-champion Spartanburg Methodist 4-0 on the opening day of the tournament, and then took down Harford 8-0 by run-rule in 6 innings in the semifinal round.  

On Championship Sunday, the Canes got on the board first in the bottom of the 1st inning on a squeeze bunt from sophomore Rachel Rusch that scored freshman Player of the Year Monica Pepe. Inning after inning, the Canes battled with the Indians, and the score remained 1-0 until the 6th. In the top of the inning, USC Salk earned two walks to put runners on first and second. On a misplayed ball up the middle, the Indians tied the game 1-1. Hutchins forced a pop-up and a ground out to end the Salkehatchie threat. 

Louisburg answered quickly. With one out in the bottom of the 6th, DaSha Hill hit a ball to the outfield and came all the way around to score to give the lead back to the Canes.

In her 5th complete game performance, the Region X Pitcher of the Year Haley Hutchins forced two groundouts and ended the game on a strikeout in the top of the 7th. She allowed just 2 hits and earned her 17th win in the circle this season. 

"Every game was a dogfight during this tournament, and our young ladies stepped up to the challenge," said second-year head coach Michelle Carlson. "Our pitching and our defense were outstanding... we did not give up a single earned run during the tournament. What impressed me the most was the confidence and composure that we played with. Every player on our roster contributed this weekend which is huge in post-season play. I couldn't be more proud of their effort."

Louisburg will head to Spartanburg, SC to play in a three-game series on May 5th-6th for a berth to the World Series in St. George, Utah.