Third-ranked Walker Valleys wasn't worried about of few rain drops and an almost two-hour delay with a downpour at the scheduled start time doing nothing to dampen their determination when it came to Game 1 of the District 5-4A softball tournament.
The top-seeded Feisty Fillies cranked out 14 hits and reached the winner's bracket final with a 9-1 win over McMinn County Friday night, at Larry Haney Field.
“I'm really proud of our girls,” said Herd wrangler Lauren Limburg. “It was crazy how the game started with the delay and everything, but they brought the energy, they brought the fight, they brought the focus. It was a team effort and a huge win to begin the district tournament."
Junior Ryann “Boogs” Presswood was again on top of her game out of the circle for the hosts with a five-hit masterpiece, striking out eight and issuing just a single base on balls.
Senior catcher Madi Oran sparkled behind the plate with a game-ending pick-off throw to first.
“The last several games we have had really good at bats. I've been telling them that and encouraging them to keep doing what they are doing,” said Limburg. “We just need to continue to do that. Make sure we have good at bats and make sure we hit good pitches.”
Walker Valley (26-5-1) was to go against 18th-ranked Cleveland (20-11) after presstime Monday, weather permitting.
The second-seeded Lady Raiders defeated No. 3 seed Rhea County 4-3 Friday at Brenda Lawson Field, to earn the right to face the Herd in the semifinal matchup. The two teams split 5-3 outcomes in their previous regular season meetings.
McMinn (8-18) and Rhea (10-14) were to open Monday's play with an elimination game.
The tournament will look to wrap up Tuesday with the loser's bracket final before the championship game at 7 p.m. If a second title game is needed it will be held Wednesday at 5:30.
FEISTY FILLIES 9
LADY CHEROKEES 1
The hit parade began for the Lady Mustangs in the bottom of the first inning with Karly Blackwell beating out an infield hit and later scored on an Addison Woodall RBI-single to center field.
Amy Benson reached on an error and stood on third after Woodall's safety. Both runners raced home on a wild pitch and errant throw to pitcher the McMinn pitcher covering the plate.
Walker Valley kept the bats hot in the lower half of the third.
Presswood reached on a fielder's choice and was replaced by courtesy runner Addyson Trew, who moved to second on a Brylie Davis single. Trew stole third and raced home along with Davis to make it 5-0 thanks to Madison Thomas' single to center.
Freshman Morgan Rice followed with another one-bagger and ran the score to 6-0 when sophomore Autumn Lanclos smacked an RBI-single to left.
After sitting the Tribe down in order in the upper portion of the fourth, the Lady Mustangs added one more when Benson rocked a stand-up triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Alyssa Davenport.
McMinn broke the shutout in the top of the fifth on a Kenzie Wall triple and Peyton Ricker RBI infield single.
The bottom of the sixth saw Davenport lead off with a single to left. She later scored to on a Presswood double to left make it an 8-1 game. Trew put the final run on the board after a McMinn pitching change and a Davis double off the fence in left.
Walker Valley showed out defensively in the top of the seventh. Blackwell put the second out of the inning on the board with a diving catch in short left field. Minutes later, Oran nailed down the win with a pick-off throw to first to end the game.
“Madi (Oran) has been doing that all year. She is a wall behind the plate. She does a great job framing pitches,” said Limburg. “That was just an awesome way to end that game.
"She makes great throws all the time. I'm really proud of her. Her and 'Boogs' (Presswood) work really well together. She's done a great job for us all year.”
Limburg said she is looking for the No. 1-seed Lady Mustangs to carry the momentum into Monday's battle against No. 2-seed Cleveland.
“It's one game at a time, but right now we're 1-0 in this new season and we're excited to compete on Monday,” she stated.
