Sale Creek's Macie Stanfield pitched a no-hitter, Whitwell's Anna Yell pitched a one-hitter and their teams were victorious in their TSSAA Class A softball state sectionals Saturday evening.
The Lady Panthers defeated North Greene 8-0 at Sale Creek, and the Lady Tigers beat Moore County 2-0 at Whitwell.
The only thing that prevented Stanfield from pitching a perfect game was an error on a ball that was squibbed off the bat handle and took a reckless spin in the infield dirt with two out in the fourth inning.
"She threw lights out," Sale Creek assistant coach Eric Sullivan said of Stanfield, who had 14 strikeouts. "She mixed her offspeed stuff in really well today."
The Lady Panthers (33-5), who will make their second state-tournament appearance, spotted Stanfield a 3-0 lead after she struck out the side in order in the first inning. Leah Campbell then had an RBI single and Stanfield had an RBI double in the second. Hannah Hall drew a bases-loaded walk in the third, and the last two runs scored on Trinity Liner's sixth-inning double.
"We came out and the top of the lineup did their job," Sullivan said. "They squared up and put the ball in play. If we can hit, we can play with anybody in the state."
' Whitwell 2, Moore County 0: The Lady Tigers are making a return trip to the state tournament thanks to just enough offensive support for Yell, who had another strong outing.
Whitwell (21-15-1) got its runs in the second inning, despite hitting just one ball out of the infield. Kynlie Higdon's sacrifice bunt plated the first run, and later in the inning Delanie Merciers, who had doubled, scored on Camryn Haag's fielder's choice.
That was all the offense Yell would need as she gave up a two-out single in the fifth but nothing else, striking out four and walking none. Moore County pitcher Laura Cashion limited Whitwell to five hits.
"We got on her shoulders and let Anna carry us tonight," Lady Tigers assistant coach Heath Thacker said. "We got just enough offense for her, but it was her show."