MORRISTOWN — Morristown West softball coach Heather Kelley tries to avoid looking at home run stats, stating “if they come, they come” and emphasizing team ball.
The home runs came in a big way Monday night, thanks to Aubrie Messer. Two big swings by Messer made a world of difference against Daniel Boone in the Region 1-4A semifinal round, as West took a 4-0 win at J.C. Wild Softball Park.
Messer drove in all four runs, crushing a three-run bomb in the first inning and a solo shot in the third before finishing 3-for-4.
“I couldn’t tell you (how many home runs she’s hit this year), but she’s in the 4-slot for a reason, I’ll tell you that. What a game,” Kelley said. “She played lights out. She’s diving into first, she’s making great plays at short … super, super proud of Aubrie.”
For the record, Messer now has six home runs for the Lady Trojans (25-9), who’ve won three straight District 2-4A titles and clinched their second straight sectional trip with Monday’s win.
Boone finally settled down after the first inning, as the pitching rotation of Ava Saul and Kaylea Osborne allowed just four hits the rest of the game. Osborne scattered three hits and struck out five over 4 2/3 innings, while Saul fanned three with four hits allowed.
But they couldn’t get the run support they needed, as the Lady Trailblazers left 10 runners on base. Boone loaded the bases with two out in the fifth, but a groundout allowed West pitcher Briony Bunsic to escape unharmed. Cadence Beaver turned a double play to end the top of the sixth and keep Boone off the board.
“We competed really hard tonight, but we just couldn’t get the big hit,” Boone coach Jeremy Jenkins said. “I thought we pitched well enough, played pretty good defense like we’ve done all year. Just wasn’t in the cards for us.”
Bunsic, a junior Western Carolina commit, struck out seven and walked four to collect the five-hit shutout.
SPEC
IAL GROUP
Boone graduates four seniors from a class that went 133-30 over the previous four years. The Lady Trailblazers, who finished the year 23-14, won two district and three region championships while going to Murfreesboro three times, including last year’s state runner-up finish.
Anna Richardson went 3-for-3 in her final game, and fellow senior Sadie Henson doubled in addition to drawing a walk. Kyleigh Bacon and Josie Jenkins saw their high school careers end with the defeat.
“Our school is a better place because those four have been there,” Jenkins said.
UP NEXT
Morristown West travels to Dobyns-Bennett for the Region 1-4A championship Wednesday night, before Friday’s sectional round.
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