It's "been a minute" since Walker Valley has played in a TSSAA Sectional softball game, but the drought is over.
Although both teams were dressed in near matching white uniforms with pinstripes, the Feisty Fillies had no trouble distinguishing their own as they galloped around the bases for an 11-4 victory over county-rival Bradley Central, the District 6 champions, in a Region 3-4A semifinal Monday, at Bob McKenzie Field.
“It was just a complete team effort. We stepped up on defense and on offense and got some key hits," proclaimed veteran Herd wrangler Lauren Limburg.
"'Boogs,' (junior Ryann Presswood) again pitched a great game. That was a big hit for Karly (Blackwell). It was her first home run ever. To see how excited the girls were for her just shows a testament to our team, how much they care about each other and what a great leader Karly is.
"I'm just really proud of each and every one of them," she commented. "They stepped up at different times. Our defense was really sound behind 'Boogs.' I'm just really impressed and very proud. I don't take this moment for granted.”
The decisive win, coupled with East Hamilton knocking off District 5 champ Cleveland 1-0 across town, means Walker Valley will host the District 6 runner-up Lady Hurricanes Wednesday to determine the Region 3 championship.
“I'm very excited. I'm excited for our girls,” said Coach Limburg. “They have worked incredibly hard. They've bought into what we'e talked about all year, being a family and loving each other.
"They are reaping the benefits of that. We're so excited to get out and compete on Wednesday. We look forward to continuing to play in the region.”
Monday's wins also earn fifth-ranked Walker Valley (28-7) and East Hamilton (20-11), which made a state fourth-place run in Class 3A last season, spots in Friday's Sectional play either against either District 7 champ Smyrna (27-10) or 12th-ranked Stewarts Creek (25-10) for a shot at a trip to the Spring Fling next week in Murfreesboro.
The Lady Bulldogs got past 10th-ranked Oakland 5-2 Monday in the Region 4 semis, while the Lady Hawks knocked off second-ranked and District 8 champ Siegel 1-0.
Walker Valley hasn't made the substate round since its TSSAA State runner-up run in 2018.
FEISTY FILLIES 11
BEARETTES 4
Presswood struck out nine, walked none and scattered seven hits in a complete-game effort for her 19th win of the season.
Bradley got a pair of "blasts" from Karly Farkas, landing on the far side of the fence. The sophomore went 3-fot-3, driving in all three Bearette scores.
Senior Kaitlyn Bailey was charged with the loss for Bradley in a committee effort that saw four Bearettes take the circle.
“I was really proud of the way we adjusted,” assessed Coach Limburg. “We had good at bats the first time through, but we really took advantage and adjusted the second and third times through. We've been talking about that for the last week, having good at bats, swinging at strikes and adjusting. I thought we did a really good job of that.”
Bailey held the Feisty Fillies in check for two innings before the Walker Valley bats heated up in the top of the third.
After junior Alyssa Davenport lifted a sacrifice fly that scored sophomore Autumn Lanclos, the Lady Mustangs loaded the bases for the second time in the inning with Presswood coming to the plate. The junior hurler delivered in a big way with a three-run double to right field to put the Lady Mustangs up 4-0.
The scoring continued in the top of the fourth as freshman Morgan Rice singled to short right and raced home when junior Karly Blackwell ripped a three-bagger to right-center. Blackwell made it a 6-0 game when classmate Amy Benson doubled to left.
The Bearettes cut the Walker Valley lead by two runs in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Alliyssia Herbold trotted home thanks to a Farkas' first blast that cleared the center-field fence.
The Fillies got the runs back in the upper half of the sixth with two runs crossing the plate on a pair of back-to-back walks and two Bradley errors.
The top half of the seventh saw Walker Valley add to the lead beginning with a Rice safety to left.
Blackwell made it a 10-2 game with her first-ever homer that ricocheted off the old scoreboard pole in right.
Benson kept the inning going with a single to right and made it 11-2 on Addison Woodall's RBI-double to center.
But, the Bearettes were not finished.
Farkas cut the lead by one with her second towering shot that landed behind the right-field fence.
Freshman Landry Johnson followed with a double to left-center and scored on a single off the bat of classmate Evaney Longwith, who tried to stretch the hit into a double, but was thrown out at second for the second out.
Presswood fanned the final Bearette to send the Lady Mustangs to the championship game.
"Tonight didn’t go as we had planned but we could not be prouder of our girls tonight," proclaimed fourth-year Bradley head coach Hallie Geren, a former Walker Valley and college standout player.
"They fought hard all seven innings and never gave up. Even when it was the bottom of the seventh, Karly came up and started us with a home run and we had two pinch hitters come in and lace two doubles.
"Walker is a hard team to beat and they don’t go down easy, but neither do my girls. I could not be prouder of my girls this season and all that they have accomplished," she added.
"They changed the program this year and I cannot wait to see what they can do next year. God Bless and Go BEARETTES!"
Bradley loses just two senior pitchers in Bailey and Madison Long off this year District 6 championship squad.
Likewise, Walker Valley graduates a pair in East Tennessee signee Addison Woodall and starting catcher Madi Oran.
