Lady Indians Continue to Make History With First-Ever State Softball Tournament Berth
Hailey Porter was a wide-eyed freshman shortstop when Dobyns-Bennett went to Farragut two years ago for a state sectional match-up.
Porter’s two first-inning errors helped pave the way for the Lady Admirals to plate four first inning runs in a 5-0 victory over the Lady Indians.
In Friday’s sectional rematch at Indian Highland Park, Porter made all the plays, including one she shouldn’t have, in Dobyns-Bennett’s 5-0 history making triumph.
“It’s awesome. We played three games this week and don’t give up a run,” said coach Andy Hubbard. “We played great defense and hit it, all you can ask for.
“This group is special. They’ve been special. We’ve had a couple of opportunities to go and we finally get to go.”
One out into the bottom of the sixth, Reagan Hollowell popped up an attempted sacrifice bunt that Porter casually caught in the on-deck circle.
Problem was it was a live ball in play, resulting in Hollowell being ruled out on interference. But a ticked off Porter promptly lined a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for her 17th home run of the season giving Dobyns-Bennett its five-run advantage and essentially clinching the Lady Indians first-ever state softball tournament berth.
“I had no idea that was a rule actually,” said Porter. “I went up there a little upset because I felt Reagan was going to do something really big. Felt bad after I did that to Reagan.”
Porter went chasing a riser on the first pitch before turning on one on the inner half.
“First one, yeah, it was a good six feet above my head,” continued Porter. “I saw nothing (on the home run), it was just a hack. It felt pretty good coming off the bat.”
Porter’s slick fielding skills were on display as she gathered Farragut leadoff hitter Addison Pressley’s grounder backhanded in the hole and got the out at first when Sophie Dean scooped the throw.
“Last time I played Farragut, that same batter (Pressley) got me,” noted Porter. “I made an error and it started off their rally. Feels great to turn it around on them.”
Porter turned around the first pitch she saw for a double in the bottom of the first to ignite a two-run rally, scoring on an error on Riley McMillan’s sacrifice bunt. McMillan reached second on the play, moved to third on Allie McConelee’s single and scored on Catie Zani’s groundout to second.
It would be all the support senior Julianne Tipton would need.
“We have a saying in our dugout to score early,” said Tipton. “When we score early, we get the energy up early and the momentum kind of takes us one way and it doesn’t stop.”
Tipton worked her third shutout of the week, striking out seven and allowing just four hits.
“Julianne has been lights out all week and we are riding off her energy,” noted Porter. “When she is throwing it good, she’s unhittable.”
Tipton had been unhittable on the week, no-hitting both Jefferson County and Morristown West in back-to-back 10-0 region tournament victories.
“I see confidence, I see a freaking lion,” said second baseman Payton Moore. “She is ready to pounce, she is ready to go crazy. I just love Julianne in this position.”
Prior to allowing a single in the fourth, Tipton had thrown 15 consecutive no-hit innings. In 42 postseason innings, the Arizona State signee has struck out 51, allowed just 19 hits and three earned runs for 0.50 ERA
“It’s an amazing feeling. We’ve worked hard the past four years…we worked really, really hard,” said an emotional Tipton. “And a lot of the times it was very difficult to see success in a score even though we were being successful in learning things and getting better. It means a lot to finally see it go this way.”
Dobyns-Bennett (31-11) added to its lead when McConnelee cracked a solo homer on a 2-2 pitch leading off the fifth.
“It’s kind of hard for me to lead off an inning with nobody on,” McConnelee. “I battled in that count, came back and smashed it. Once I hit it, I knew it was gone.”
McConnelee finished 3-for-3 in in the game while Claudia Maness went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Porter was also 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
The Lady Indian softball squad joins the Lady Indians soccer and Lady Indians basketball units that also made state tournament appearances this season.
“Tony Weaver (soccer) and Bill Francis (basketball) put the pressure on me,” cracked Hubbard, who like Francis, had to overcome the loss of standout Hannah Frye. “Our team pulled together even tighter when Hannah got injured.”
Indiya Bristol, Hollowell, Frye and Moore are now part of two state tournament teams in two different sports.
“You can’t compare them, they are both the same,” said Moore. “I’m just excited, I can’t wait. We are just going to go down there and play smooth and calm like we are right now and do what we can do.”
Dobyns-Bennett will open the state tournament Tuesday. All four Class 4A state quarterfinal games will start at 2:00 p.m.
“I think we are peaking at the right time,” said Hubbard. “I’m anxious to see what we can do.”
Farragut – Emma MacTavish and Rylee Raby. Dobyns-Bennett – Julianne Tipton and Riley McMillan. W – Julianne Tipton, L – Emma MacTavish. 2B – Hailey Porter, Dobyns-Bennett. HR – Allie McConnelee, Dobyns-Bennett (solo in 5th); Hailey Porter (one on in 6th). RBI – Hailey Porter, Dobyns-Bennett 2; Allie McConnelee, Dobyns-Benentt; Catie Zani, Dobyns-Bennett. SAC – Riley McMillan, Dobyns-Bennett. LOB – Farragut 5, Dobyns-Bennett 6.
Porter’s two first-inning errors helped pave the way for the Lady Admirals to plate four first inning runs in a 5-0 victory over the Lady Indians.
In Friday’s sectional rematch at Indian Highland Park, Porter made all the plays, including one she shouldn’t have, in Dobyns-Bennett’s 5-0 history making triumph.
“It’s awesome. We played three games this week and don’t give up a run,” said coach Andy Hubbard. “We played great defense and hit it, all you can ask for.
“This group is special. They’ve been special. We’ve had a couple of opportunities to go and we finally get to go.”
One out into the bottom of the sixth, Reagan Hollowell popped up an attempted sacrifice bunt that Porter casually caught in the on-deck circle.
Problem was it was a live ball in play, resulting in Hollowell being ruled out on interference. But a ticked off Porter promptly lined a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for her 17th home run of the season giving Dobyns-Bennett its five-run advantage and essentially clinching the Lady Indians first-ever state softball tournament berth.
“I had no idea that was a rule actually,” said Porter. “I went up there a little upset because I felt Reagan was going to do something really big. Felt bad after I did that to Reagan.”
Porter went chasing a riser on the first pitch before turning on one on the inner half.
“First one, yeah, it was a good six feet above my head,” continued Porter. “I saw nothing (on the home run), it was just a hack. It felt pretty good coming off the bat.”
Porter’s slick fielding skills were on display as she gathered Farragut leadoff hitter Addison Pressley’s grounder backhanded in the hole and got the out at first when Sophie Dean scooped the throw.
“Last time I played Farragut, that same batter (Pressley) got me,” noted Porter. “I made an error and it started off their rally. Feels great to turn it around on them.”
Porter turned around the first pitch she saw for a double in the bottom of the first to ignite a two-run rally, scoring on an error on Riley McMillan’s sacrifice bunt. McMillan reached second on the play, moved to third on Allie McConelee’s single and scored on Catie Zani’s groundout to second.
It would be all the support senior Julianne Tipton would need.
“We have a saying in our dugout to score early,” said Tipton. “When we score early, we get the energy up early and the momentum kind of takes us one way and it doesn’t stop.”
Tipton worked her third shutout of the week, striking out seven and allowing just four hits.
“Julianne has been lights out all week and we are riding off her energy,” noted Porter. “When she is throwing it good, she’s unhittable.”
Tipton had been unhittable on the week, no-hitting both Jefferson County and Morristown West in back-to-back 10-0 region tournament victories.
“I see confidence, I see a freaking lion,” said second baseman Payton Moore. “She is ready to pounce, she is ready to go crazy. I just love Julianne in this position.”
Prior to allowing a single in the fourth, Tipton had thrown 15 consecutive no-hit innings. In 42 postseason innings, the Arizona State signee has struck out 51, allowed just 19 hits and three earned runs for 0.50 ERA
“It’s an amazing feeling. We’ve worked hard the past four years…we worked really, really hard,” said an emotional Tipton. “And a lot of the times it was very difficult to see success in a score even though we were being successful in learning things and getting better. It means a lot to finally see it go this way.”
Dobyns-Bennett (31-11) added to its lead when McConnelee cracked a solo homer on a 2-2 pitch leading off the fifth.
“It’s kind of hard for me to lead off an inning with nobody on,” McConnelee. “I battled in that count, came back and smashed it. Once I hit it, I knew it was gone.”
McConnelee finished 3-for-3 in in the game while Claudia Maness went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Porter was also 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
The Lady Indian softball squad joins the Lady Indians soccer and Lady Indians basketball units that also made state tournament appearances this season.
“Tony Weaver (soccer) and Bill Francis (basketball) put the pressure on me,” cracked Hubbard, who like Francis, had to overcome the loss of standout Hannah Frye. “Our team pulled together even tighter when Hannah got injured.”
Indiya Bristol, Hollowell, Frye and Moore are now part of two state tournament teams in two different sports.
“You can’t compare them, they are both the same,” said Moore. “I’m just excited, I can’t wait. We are just going to go down there and play smooth and calm like we are right now and do what we can do.”
Dobyns-Bennett will open the state tournament Tuesday. All four Class 4A state quarterfinal games will start at 2:00 p.m.
“I think we are peaking at the right time,” said Hubbard. “I’m anxious to see what we can do.”
Farragut | 000 | 000 | 0 | -- | 0 | 4 | 2 |
Dobyns-Bennett | 200 | 012 | x | -- | 5 | 7 | 0 |
Farragut – Emma MacTavish and Rylee Raby. Dobyns-Bennett – Julianne Tipton and Riley McMillan. W – Julianne Tipton, L – Emma MacTavish. 2B – Hailey Porter, Dobyns-Bennett. HR – Allie McConnelee, Dobyns-Bennett (solo in 5th); Hailey Porter (one on in 6th). RBI – Hailey Porter, Dobyns-Bennett 2; Allie McConnelee, Dobyns-Benentt; Catie Zani, Dobyns-Bennett. SAC – Riley McMillan, Dobyns-Bennett. LOB – Farragut 5, Dobyns-Bennett 6.
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