Creek Wood softball season ends with another Spring Fling run

Anthony Mazzolini
The Tennessean

MURFREESBORO – After making a surprise run to the Class AA state tournament a year ago with a youth-filled roster, the Creek Wood softball team knew it was lined up for similar success in 2018.

Creek Wood catcher Madison Woodard connects on a pitch for a 3 run homer against Greenbrier

If they could improve on one thing that was: plate discipline.

"Pitch selection. We really, really talked about knowing what pitch you can hit and looking for that pitch," said Creek Wood head coach Nancy Jackson. "Last year we were just trying to hit any pitch."

A renewed dedication at the plate led the Red Hawks back to Murfreesboro for a third state tourney in four years.

Before running into the buzzsaw that is White House Heritage ace pitcher Alyssa Arden, who ended Creek Wood's season Thursday with a stellar performance in the circle, the Hawks' bats had been on fire in the postseason. The lineup had produced 9.5 runs per game dating back to its domination at the Region 6 tournament.

That included 11 runs in the TSSAA Spring Fling tournament's opening game, a win over Sweetwater, and another eight in a Round 2 loss to Gibbs. Junior third baseman Sam Morgan provided the pop in the game with a 5-for-5 day, tying state record's for most home runs (2) and total hits (5) in a tournament game.

"I was a lot more calm," Morgan said of the impact of last year's state experience on her monster game. "It was just one of those things realizing the reality of when I was itty bitty, this is what I wanted to do. I was just happy to be in the moment, playing like that kid again."

Creek Wood's Jase Jackson makes the stop and throws to 1st base for the out against Greenbrier. Creek Wood advances to the State Tournament with a 10 to 5 win over Greenbrier

The Red Hawks will rely on Morgan's bat even more next year, though she'll be part of something Creek Wood hasn't had in a few years: depth in senior leadership. The team had just one senior this spring and none at all on last year's state-qualifying team. Morgan, catcher Madison Woodard, infielder Samantha England and outfielders Jaylee Howard and Alex Edwards will make up a corps of five seniors and a crew loaded with experience in 2019.

Bailey Griffith was the Red Hawks' lone fourth-year player during their most recent state run. The Lincoln Memorial University-bound pitcher left her mark on the program in both her athleticism – she handled the majority of the innings pitched with relief help from sophomore Lennon Spicer – and her personality.

"Knowing it was my last year, I think we made the best of it," Griffith said of he time at Creek Wood. "Always found a way to make something fun out of every game, even the losses."