Dominant pitching was the overwhelming theme in the championship game as North Greene’s Hannah Brooks and Cloudland’s Reagan Turbyfill squared off looking to send their team to a home sectional game and becoming one step closer to securing a trip to the TSSAA state softball tournament next week in Murfreesboro.
Both pitchers combined to allow only 4 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits, surrendering 4 walks and collecting 17 strikeouts. It was the Lady Huskies, however, who would capitalize on some Highlander miscues and come away with the 3-1 victory.
Things started real well for North Greene when Heidi Harmon drew a leadoff walk to start the game and advance to third when Matti Phillips reached on an infield single. With Hannah Brooks at the plate, Phillips would advance to second on a catcher’s indifference. Brooks then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Harmon and giving the Huskies the 1-0 lead. Haley Bailey made the second out of the inning with a ground ball to the shortstop, but a costly throwing error by the first baseman allowed Phillips to come around and score, for the 2-0 advantage.
Neither team would threaten again until the top of the seventh when Loren Blevins singled on a flyball to left and then stole second. Jordanne Marr came to the plate and laid down a bunt that was misplayed, allowing Blevins to push across an insurance run and go up 3-0.
The Lady Highlanders would not go away quietly. Eowyn McCoury drew a 1-out walk and scored when Ryan Turbyfill blasted a double to center, making the score 3-1 and bringing the tying run to the plate. Brooks, however would get the final two outs of the game on a strike-out and ground out to secure the victory.
Loren Blevins, Matti Phillips, and Hannah Brooks each collected singles for North Greene, while Brooks picked up the win, going the distance and striking out 10.
With the win, North Greene advances to the sectional for the eighth time since 2015. They will look to advance to the state tournament for the third time in the last 4 as they face Wartburg Central at 2pm in Baileyton.
