DUNLAP, Tenn. - With plenty of firepower, the Sequatchie County High School softball team is red hot.
With the ace presence of MacKenzie Turner and a stout lineup, the Lady Indians won their 16th straight game with a dominant showing in Thursday's 6-1 victory at home against District 7-AA archrival Marion County.
After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and shaking off a one-run deficit after Sara Muir's line-drive shot over the fence in right-center field in the top of the third, Turner went on to retire the last 13 batters in a row. She struck out 12 in the game.
"We work together as a team, and I knew my girls had my back," Turner said. "Last year we lost four times to Marion County before we beat them twice in the district championship game. I don't want to lose to them at all this year. Even though they took an early lead, I had confidence to keep going after them."
Five players drove in runs for Sequatchie County (18-1, 5-0) with the freshman-sophomore duo of Ella and Addy Edgmon accounting for the last three. Both have committed to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
During its winning streak, the Lady Indians have driven in 136 runs (8.5 per game) while allowing just 29 (1.8). Among the teams they have beaten are Class AAA power Beech, which won 35 games last season.
"In order to make a state championship run this season, I told our girls there would have to be a lot of sacrifices," coach Kelly Somerville said. "They have been all in from day one and are playing to win each and every day. There is no jealousy on this team at all. The attitude of all our girls is great."
Neither team committed an error. Marion County's only hit besides Muir's homer came from Savannah Thomas in the first.
Sequatchie's Cali Green drove in a run and made an outstanding grab in right field on a sharp, slicing hit down the line in the sixth. Peyton Longson, Jesyca Dennis and Green had RBI singles in a breakthrough third.
Ella Edgmon's slap hit down the line in the fourth turned into an RBI triple, the lone extra base hit for Sequatchie County, which fell one win short of the Class AA state tournament last season.
"We had the mindset last season we would be a state championship-caliber team by this year," said Abbie McGowan, who went 1-for-3 with a run scored. "Our biggest strength is MacKenzie, and we can also hit the ball and field it well. We all have good attitudes and can play ball. When one of us gets going, it's like a domino effect."
With two starters back from last season who were injured along with a standout freshman class, there are high hopes Sequatchie County can make it back to state for the first time since 2014.
"Our senior class last year really laid the groundwork on how to be great teammates," Somerville said. "All of our girls are so competitive and push one another, even our freshmen. They are going to do whatever it takes."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.