The Region 3-4A Softball Championship game had it all — a pitcher's dual between two of the best hurlers in the tristate area, highlight reel plays on the defensive side, key hits in crucial situations, extra inning and rain.
The battle between Walker Valley's Ryann “Boogs” Presswood and East Hamilton's Yulia Woodruff can only be described as "epic" with Presswood coming out as the winning pitcher between two hurlers who both deserved to win the fight to the finish.
Only a misplayed ball to the outfield in the bottom of the ninth gave the Lady Mustangs a 2-1, nine-inning win over the Lady Hurricanes Wednesday at Larry Haney Field.
“Wow! What a great game,” said an emotional Feisty Fillies head coach Lauren Limburg as her team celebrated the victory. “It was a complete team effort.
"We had people step up. We made diving plays on the field. We had our backs against the wall a few times and we came up with outs. 'Boogs' pitched a great game. We had several people step up and get hits.
"I just can't say enough about our fight and our resilience," she proudly proclaimed. "I'm just so proud of them. They're a great group of girls, man and I am very blessed to be their coach.”
With the Region 3 crown on its heads, fifth-ranked Walker Valley (29-7-1) will return to TSSAA Sectional action with a state tournament berth on the line after presstime Friday against Region 4 runner-up Smyrna (27-11).
The Feisty Fillies were looking for their first Spring Fling since their 2018 state runner-up run. The Herd also went in 2004 and '05, finishing in second in the latter.
Coming in with five college signees and a junior commit, the Lady Bulldogs have been to a pair of state tournaments, winning the 2013 title and finishing second in 1980.
East Hamilton (20-12) will travel to 12th-ranked Stewarts Creek (25-11) the home of the winner of that game, with a shot at a return trip to Murfreesboro. The Lady Hurricanes finished fourth in the Class 3A State Championships last season, plus played in the 2012 and '13 events.
With the school's opening in 2013, the Lady Hawks had Top 5 state runs in 2022 and '16.
The TSSAA State Championships will begin Tuesday at the Murfreesboro Sports Complex and McKnight Fields, with the state title game at MTSU on May 25.
FEISTY FILLIES 2
LADY HURRICANES 1
Junior hurlers Presswood and Woodruff both had impressive complete-game outings.
The Feisty Fillies ace notched her 20th win of the season giving up just a solo home run to East Ham's Bailey Poschke to open the game. Presswood struck out a dozen, while walking just one and scattering a total of seven hits.
The future UTEP Miner threw to 36 Lady Hurricanes, who saw 91 strikes out of 132 pitches.
“'Boogs' just pitched great. She just stepped up when we needed outs, when we needed strikeouts. She stepped up and she got those outs and our defense backed her up the whole time,” praised Coach Limburg.
Coming off a 12 K performance in a 1-0 win over District 5 champion Cleveland Monday, Woodruff gave up eight hits, but was well below her average with just four strikeouts. She also handed out a trio of free passes and one earned run, faced 39 batters, while throwing 89 strikes in 149 pitches.
Walker Valley left 10 runners on base while East Hamilton stranded eight.
“I thought we had a great plan. I thought our girls executed the plan. They trusted the process," related Coach Limburg. "It didn't happen those first few innings, but we kept the fight and we trusted the process.
"I'm just really proud of them for continuing to fight. I love this group. They are not only great athletes, but they are great young ladies they are great students. We've got great families. I'm just blessed.”
It took the Lady 'Canes just one batter in the top of the first inning to put the first run on the board lead-off hitter Poschke took a 1-1 offering over the right-field fence.
Presswood pitched through rain drops in the top of the fifth as a brief, but heavy rain shower sent fans scurrying for shelter.
The East Hamilton lead stood until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Feisty Fillies sophomore Madison Thomas scored after stroking one-out double to right-center field.
Classmate Autumn Lanclos got the RBI with a single to center that knotted the game at 1-1.
Both teams put runners on the bags in the sixth and seventh, including the Feisty Fillies loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. But, Woodruff got a pair of short fly balls and a grounder to shortstop to dash the threat.
Walker Valley again put runners on in the lower half of the eighth, but could not push a run across the plate.
East Ham put a runner on in the top of the ninth with one out before Presswood dialed up a pair of Ks to end the inning.
With one out in the bottom of the inning, junior Karly Blackwell singled to right and was still on first when Alyssa Davenport lifted a high fly ball to the outfield.
With two outs, Blackwell was off and running on the hit and raced home with the winning run when the ball was misplayed, giving Walker Valley the victory and the region crown.
“That was a great hit by Alyssa to get that last run in. Like I said, I'm just proud. Everybody did their job and we're just excited to be able to host a sectional,” said Coach Limburg.
“We've got to take care of business Friday. Whoever it is will be a great team and we've got to come ready to fight.”
