CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- It's been a minute since Walker Valley has played in a sectional softball game, but the drought is over and the Lady Mustangs will have a shot at going to Murfreesboro with a win Friday in sectional play whether at home or on the road after a Region 3 semifinal win over Bradley Central Monday.
The Lady Mustangs took care of business against the Bearettes Monday in an elimination game by a score of 11-4 and will play for the region championship Wednesday against East Hamilton at 5:30 p.m.
The Lady Hurricanes ended the season for Cleveland with a 1-0 win in Monday's other semifinal game.
“It was just a complete team effort. We stepped up on defense and on offense and got some key hits. “Boogs,” again pitched a great game. That was a big hit for Karly (Blackwell). It was her first home run ever. To see how excited the girls were for her just shows a testament to our team, how much they care about each other and what a great leader Karly is. I'm just really proud of each and every one of them. They stepped up at different times. Our defense was really sound behind “Boogs.” I'm just really impressed and very proud. I don't take this moment for granted.”
Ryann “Boogs” Presswood pitched a complete game win for the Lady Mustangs striking out nine Bearettes giving up no walks. Bradley banged out seven hits on the day with two blasts from Karlee Farkas landing on the far side of the fence.
Kaitlyn Bailey was charged with the loss for Bradley in a committee effort that saw four Bearettes take the circle.
“I was really proud of the way we adjusted,” said Lady Mustagns head coach Lauren Limburg. “We had good at bats the first time through, but we really took advantage and adjusted the second and third times through. We've been talking about that for the last week, having good at bats, swinging at strikes and adjusting. I thought we did a really good job of that.”
Bailey held the Feisty Fillies in check for two innings before the Walker Valley bats heated up in the top of the third. After an Alyssa Davenport sacrifice fly that scored Autumn Lanclos, the Lady Mustangs loaded the bases for the second tine in the inning with Presswood coming to the plate. The junior hurler delivered in a big way with a three RBI triple to right field to put the Lady Mustangs up 4-0.
The scoring continued in the top of the fourth as Morgan Rice singled to short right and raced home when Karly Blackwell ripped a three bagger to right-center. Blackwell made it a 6-0 game on an Amy Benson double to left.
The Bearettes cut the Walker Valley lead by two runs in the bottom of the fourth when Alyssa Herbold trotted home thanks to a Karlee Farkas blast that cleared the center-field fence.
The fillies got the runs back in the upper half of the sixth wit two runs crossing the plate on a pair of back-to-back walks and two Bradley errors.
The top half of the seventh saw the Lady Mustangs take add to the lead beginning with a Rice safety to left. Blackwell made it a 10-2 game with her first-ever homer that ricocheted off the old scoreboard pole in right. Amy Benson kept the inning going with a single to right and made it 11-2 on Addison Woodall's RBI double to center.
But, the Bearettes were not finished.
Farkas cut the lead by one with her second fence clearing rip of the game with a secobd towering shot that landed behind the right-field fence. Landry Johnson Followed with a double to left-center and scored on a single off the bat of Evaney Longwith, who tried to stretch the hit into a double, but was thrown out at second for the second out. Presswood fanned the final Bearette to send the Lady Mustangs to the championship game.
“I'm very excited. I'm excited for our girls,” said Limburg. “They have worked incredibly hard. They've bought in to what what we'e talked about all year, being a family and loving each other. They are reaping the benefits of that. We're so excited to get out and compete on Wednesday. We look forward to continuing to play in the region.”
Summary
Walker Valley 004 202 3 — 11 9 1
Bradley Central 000 200 2 — 4 7 2
WP: Ryann Presswood LP: Kaitlyn Bailey HR: Karly Blackwell (WV); Karlee Farkas 2 (BC). 2B: Addison Woodall (WV); Landry Johnson (BC). Highlights: Blackwell 2-4 3RS 3RBI, Amy Benson 2-4 3RS RBI, Alyssa Davenport RS RBI, Woodall RS RBI, Presswood 3RBI, Morgan Rice 2-4 RS, Autumn Lanclos RS, Madi Oran RS (WV); Ma'Ryah Greenwood 2-3, Alyssa Herbold RS, Farkas 2-3 2RS 3RBI, Johnson RS, Evaney Longwith RBI.
(Contact Richard Roberts at richardvol55#yahoo.com)