ATHENS – Third-ranked Walker Valley went to McMinn County eyeing the District 5-4A tournament’s top seed as the prize, and it clinched it in style.
The Feisty Fillies put up three runs in the top of the first inning and steadily built on their lead, then finished their regular-season finale with a five-run flourish in the seventh and a 13-2 win over the Lady Cherokees on Wednesday, at McMinn County High School.
Walker Valley (24-5-1, 5-1 District 5-4A) holds the tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed over 18th-ranked Cleveland (19-13, 5-1)– with whom it split this season by identical 5-3 scores. The league tie-breaker than goes to the run differential against the next highest seeded team No. 3 Rhea County (10-13, 2-4), with the Herd defeating the Lady Eagles 20-2 and the Lady Raiders 10-1.
And with the top seed clinched, Walker Valley begins the district tournament with a rematch against No. 4 seed McMinn (8-17, 0-6) after presstime Friday, at their home Larry Haney Field.
“We feel very fortunate, and we’re excited to get the district tournament underway,” remarked said Walker Valley head coach Lauren Limburg. “Everybody is 0-0 right now, so we’ve got to go out and take care of business again on Friday.”
Weather permitting, Cleveland and Rhea County were also to square off Friday evening. The teams will return to Charleston Monday for an elimination game at 5 between Friday's losers, followed by the two opening-round victors will tangle in the winner's bracket final, with the victor earning a spot in the Region 3 Tournament.
On Tuesday the two one-loss teams will battle for the final region spot at 5, plus the rite to tangle for the district crown at 7. If a second championship game is needed it will be played Wednesday at 5:30.
FEISTY FILLIES 13
LADY CHEROKEES 2
Junior Karly Blackwell slapped a lead-off single and later scored when classmate Ryann Presswood’s fly ball was dropped in the outfield.
Sophomore Madison Thomas then got her five-RBI day started with a bloop high into the air that dropped inches into the outfield grass between first and second base, adding two runs to the tally.
McMinn senior Cami Wade hit a solo homer over dead center in the bottom of the second inning to get the Lady Cherokees on board and get them within 3-1. But, Thomas answered in the top of the third with an RBI-double to restore Walker Valley’s three-run cushion.
Presswood, meanwhile, recorded four strikeouts in her four-inning start and scattered two hits.
Sophomore Brylie Davis was in the circle for the fifth and sixth innings, while classmate Haley Davis toed the rubber in the seventh. Together the Lady Mustang pitchers did not allow another McMinn run until the seventh, when they were already ahead 13-1.
“Scoring in the first inning really sets the tone for the game, and really proud of our girls for getting ahead early and just continuing to fight through at-bats, through different defense,” assessed Coach Limburg.
“I thought we played a really good defensive game and our pitchers pitched well. I was proud of us for continuing to score runs throughout the game. We had great at-bats, and I’m actually proud of our team with a big district win.”
The Lady Mustangs began the fourth inning drawing three walks and cashed in three more runs, with recent East Tennessee State signee Addison Woodall hitting a single to drive in a pair, before Thomas was "plunked" with bases loaded.
Thomas, who hit 4-4, notched her fifth RBI with a single in the top of the sixth that bumped Walker Valley’s lead to 8-1.
Lady Mustang No. 9 hitter sophomore Autumn Lanclos went "yard" to lead off the seventh, and Blackwell followed with a single. Juniors Amy Benson and Alyssa Davenport then stroked back-to-back RBI-doubles.
The final Herd runs came when Woodall singled in another run, and Haley Davis’ groundout was good for another RBI and a 13-1 lead.
Blackwell went 3-for-5 and scored twice, while Woodall got on base three times with a pair of hits and a walk, to plate a trio of teammates, plus completed the circuit twice.
Wade added a double to her "dinger" and scored both of the Lady Cherokee runs, while junior Abby Wiseman ripped triple and senior McKenzie Wall plated a run.
