Shiann Stockwell, Madison Rollins lead Sequatchie softball past Grundy

Prep Softball
Prep Softball

DUNLAP, Tenn. - One swing of Madison Rollins' bat changed things dramatically in the District 7-AA high school softball game Wednesday at Sequatchie County.

The way her Lady Indians' teammate Shiann Stockwell was pitching, it may not have mattered anyway.

Stockwell limited Grundy County to two hits and Rollins' late-inning grand slam provided a cushion in Sequatchie County's 5-0 victory.

Sequatchie improved to 9-0 in the district standings and, with one league game remaining, clinched the district regular-season championship.

Sequatchie coach Kelly Somerville said the Lady Yellow Jackets have been her team's fiercest competition in the district the last three years. But things have taken on a deeper meaning this year with two of the eight new Lady Indians on the team having transferred from Grundy.

Rollins is one. Alex Magouirk, who handled a couple of difficult chances at third base, is the other.

"They've been quality players for us," Somerville said. "They've fit right in as far as attitude and hustle. They've worked really hard to get in the starting lineup."

Stockwell helped herself to a 1-0 lead, hitting the first of three consecutive singles to start the bottom of the fourth inning. Emily Yell's was a bunt single and Bailey Longson's line drive to right-center scored Stockwell.

Other than that, Grundy pitcher Makayla Nunley held the Lady Indians in check until they loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth. Then the right-handed-batting Rollins hit a high drive to the opposite field that landed on the other side of the fence.

"When you miss your spot to a good hitter, that's what they're there for. She pitched a really good game," Grundy coach Jason Evans said of Nunley. "We just didn't seal the deal when we had two outs."

Rollins may not have gotten to come to the plate in the sixth if not for some other occurrences earlier in the inning. Stockwell, who singled to start the rally, broke up a potential double play with a hard slide at second base. And the batter right before Rollins, Leah Underwood, hit several foul balls on the way to a full count, then squibbed a popfly that fell between first and second base that resulted in an infield hit.

"Leah Underwood had a quality at-bat, fouling off a lot of pitches before she popped one that was in on her hands and hustled down and beat it out," Somerville said. "Scoring insurance runs calms your defense down a little bit."

Rollins' slam was magnified by the fact Chloe Scissom doubled into the left-field corner to lead off the Lady Yellow Jackets' seventh. Somerville said they would've had to have played things differently defensively had the score still been 1-0.

The other hit allowed by Stockwell, whom Somerville praised for her leadership qualities this season, was an infield single to Madison Rogers with one out in the sixth. The Lady Indians committed three errors, but their senior right-hander did not allow a walk, nor did she allow a runner to advance past second base. She totaled six strikeouts.

"Their pitcher did a good job of working the inside part of the plate," Evans said. "We didn't adjust fast enough. We battled hard but she just did a real good job of not giving us anything good to hit. She picked good times to use her waste pitches."

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.

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