Hayes no-hitter lifts Huntingdon

MURFREESBORO – Sara Beth Hayes and her Huntingdon softball teammates didn’t get to go to the state tournament last year.

“I love coming here,” Hayes said. “I was devastated last year that we didn’t get to come, but I’m so glad I get to come with this group of girls.”

Facing the defending state champion Tuesday to begin the state tournament, the Fillies quickly capitalized on their current presence.

The senior Hayes threw a no-hitter and freshman Angelina Culley’s sixth-inning homer to left lifted Huntingdon to a 1-0 win over Forrest High

The Fillies (36-8) will play the Marion County – Midway winner in a non-elimination winner’s bracket game Wednesday.

“Not as much nerves now,” Hayes said. “My nerves are pretty much gone, so I’m ready for the next one.”

Culley struggled at the plate in the postseason according to Huntingdon coach Jay Lowery, but she has 11 home runs this season and came through with two outs in the sixth inning.

Nerves get Scotts Hill softball early

The freshman catcher hit a towering home run to left that looked like a homer as soon as she made contact.

“I said Hey, just have faith in your swing, the same swing you’ve had all year, and trust it,” Lowery said. “She did that that at-bat, and it showed, and it won the game for us.”

“Since I’m a freshman it was nerve wracking,” Culley said. “All the seniors were like, it’s OK, play your hearts out. We’ll do fine. We all played good, and I think I’m gonna like it.”

“When I hit it, it was just amazing. I was very happy.”

Hayes and Forrest counterpart Samantha King largely dominated the first five innings, with both of the Fillies’ hits in that span staying in the infield and Forrest unable to reach except for a couple Fillie errors.

“My curveball was working really, really well for me,” Hayes said. “During the game my changeup starting getting where I needed it and my screwball was pretty good.”

Forrest leadoff batter Emma Stacey reached on an error and advanced to third to open the game, but with two outs Huntingdon shortstop Taylor Smith made a sharp throw to prevent a run.

Forrest never got past first base the rest of the game.

“She mixed up her pitches really well. Obviously she had our number. I’m not going to take anything away from her,” Forrest coach Becky Cheatham said.

The hardest hit ball against Hayes came in the game’s final at-bat when Jordan Yelensky hit a line drive that left fielder Sara Churchwell caught a few steps in front of the fence.

“I was kind of scared then,” Hayes said. “All I’ve got to do is just throw strikes and trust my defense. I trust them out there.”

There’s much work left to do for the Fillies, but their position is significantly better than it would have been after a loss.

“I think it helps us relax a little bit,” Lowery said. “We’ll get some sleep tonight. We don’t have to get up early in the morning and play, so hopefully we can stay and watch this ball game and get an idea of what we have to do tomorrow. So, a big deal.”

Craig Thomas, 425-9634