After a quality start in the regional semifinals on Tuesday, Regan Rowan surpassed that on Wednesday with a 103-pitch complete game, and more importantly, a 3-1 Region 3-AAA final victory over East Hamilton.
“Pretty solid,” said Soddy Daisy head coach Kelsey Nunley-Moore. “She (Rowan) did what she needed to do, she was able to flush. I told her we’ve just got to attack. This is the fourth time they’ve seen her this year, so just attack and trust the defense,” said Nunley-Moore.
Ashlyn Watkins got the nod for the Canes and was impressive in her own right. Through five and a third, Watkins allowed just one run on three hits and had her team in a tie game before the Trojans chased her later that inning.
East Hamilton’s tally came early. After Reece Knox led off the game by coaxing a walk, Grace Hixson scored her with a sacrifice fly to center to give her team the early lead. Both Knox and Hixson played stellar defense as well, in center field and at second base respectively.
Knox wasn’t the only East Hamilton outfielder to flash the leather in this one. In the third inning, Skylar Gooden doubled to left field and was driven in by an Abby Faires triple to right to knot up the score at one apiece. Looking to take the lead with base runners at a premium, Tatum Massengale took a ferocious swing and drove a fly ball down the left field line, Canes left fielder Madeline Evans raced to her right and made a sliding catch in foul territory, hanging on through a collision with the fence. Evans walked off gingerly to cheers from the East Hamilton faithful but remained in the game despite a slight hobble.
Shortly thereafter, even Evans' great play was topped. Seated on a bucket just outside of the dugout, Soddy Daisy head coach Kelsey Nunley-Moore found herself in a precarious position. A blistering foul ball whizzed directly toward her, and as fans barely had time to gasp or clutch their pearls, she protected her face with the only thing she had available–her clipboard.
Heroic, courageous, plastic–the clipboard deflected the sizzling liner and saved the Trojan signal-caller from danger. A performance well worthy of being named the defensive player of the game.
Scattering a hit or a walk here and there, both starters cruised through the middle innings, and the drama slowly crescendoed as the tied game reached the sixth inning. Bottom six, the Trojan bats broke through. With one out and the sun resting just above the mountain tops as it set, fans squinted to see Tatum Massengale connect with a 2-0 pitch and launch it to deep center field for a clutch go-ahead homer. Her teammates rushed from their dugout to meet her at home plate as she glided around the bases after her critical swing.
“Early in the game, we were too aggressive not swinging at good pitches,” said Nunley-Moore. “Later in the game, we started to get a little bit more disciplined and waited until she came to us. Tatum did what she does best,” she added.
Massengale’s homer opened the floodgates for the Trojans. The middle of the Soddy Daisy lineup followed her with three straight singles, the last of which came from Hannah Patterson and scored Tristen Ward to provide the Trojans with some insurance just three outs away from a regional title.
Rowan made quick work of the last three Hurricane batters and in the crisp air under some coral-colored wispy clouds, the Trojans poured onto the center of the diamond to celebrate with their starter. The players posed for pictures with their newly-earned championship plaque and participated in spirited chants with fans and family.
“It’s always awesome,” said Nunley-Moore. “It’s a little bit more for me. My first year coaching, these seniors were freshmen, so it’s just cool to see them all the way through their four years and to go out on top like this,” said Nunley-Moore.
EAST HAMILTON 100 000 0 – 1 3 1
SODDY DAISY 001 002 x – 3 7 0
Watkins, Woodruff (6) and Poschke; Rowan and Wilkey.