The March Madness softball tournament, hosted by Hixson High School, is due for a name change. Something along the lines of "Marion Marches On."

 

For the second straight year, a surprising squad from Marion County High School outlasted a field of some of Chattanooga's most consistent and successful programs to take home the first place trophy. For the second straight year, an improving Hixson High squad reached the final, but the host team fell by a decisive 13-2 score in the finale.

 

The championship game served as a coming out party for Marion County freshman first baseman Harlie Jordan. The lefty hitting 9th grader bombed a pair of over-the-fence home runs on the Hixson High field, including a grand slam that both teams' coaches felt was the turning point in the game.

 

Both of her homers were to the opposite field.:

 

“When we saw her play this summer, we saw she could hit with power,” said Marion County assistant coach Chris Thomas, a veteran of the summer softball circuit.

 

“I felt we came out of the gate with all of the momentum,” said Hixson coach Jayme Putman, whose team scored first in the finals. “But their girl's grand slam took away all of the wind in our sails, and we never were able to get it back.

 

“If we had hit a few more line drives, just a little adjustment at the plate, it would have been a different story,” she added. “But this was a good day. We got to compete in our home tournament, raised money for our program and we got to finish second place.”

 

Hixson (4-3) defeated Silverside, Grace Academy and East Ridge on Saturday.

 

The Warriors of Marion County (6-0) faced little in the way of real trouble all weekend thanks to sophomore starter Erica O'Kane. A right-hander who saw varsity time as an eighth grader at Signal Mountain, she won all three of her outings in the tournament, including a seven-inning complete game against Silverdale.

 

Against O'Kane, the Lady Wildcats twice loaded the bases and had two runners aboard in two other innings. But she worked her way through six innings of the finale, allowing seven hits and just two runs.

 

What the Lady Wildcats lacked were hits with legs. Not Marion County.

 

In addition to a pair belonging to Jordan, O'Kane celebrated the end of her pitching day by crushing a two-run homer to right field. For the offensive day, she had a single, double and homer good for three RBIs. Jordan had five RBIs with her two big flies and Hannah Morrison drove in two as well.

 

Marissa Murray had two hits and an RBI for Hixson.

 

MARCH MADNESS

At Hixson High, Middle Schools

Championship Final

 

Marion County 015 302 2 – 13 13 1

Hixson 100 010 0 – 2 8 3

Erica O'Kane, Ritchie (4) and Barnett; Jessica Green, Murray (4) and Riley. Records: Marion County 6-0; Hixson 4-3.

 

Saturday Pool Play

Silverdale 011 3 – 5 11 `

Hixson 802 x – 10 9 -

Elise Pearson (SBA) 2-3, 2B, 3 RBI; Savannah Clay (SBA) 2-2, R, RBI.

Ciera Taylor (H) 2-3, 3 RBI; Jessica Green 2-3, 2B, 3 RBI; Abigal Tipton (H) 2-2, 2 R, RBI.

 

Silverdale 300 0 – 3 3 -

East Ridge 000 0 – 0 3 -

Pearson (SBA) 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K.

 

Red Bank 100 00 – 1 2 -

East Ridge 400 02 – 6 8 -

Rachel Watkins (ER) 5 IP, 2 H, 6 K; Morgan Monteith (ER) 2-3; Tot Najeeullah 2-3; Stacey Hamill 2-3.

 

Cleveland 000 00 – 0 1 -

Marion County 000 22 – 4 5 -

Erica O'Kane (MC) 5 IP, 1 H, 8 K; 1B, 2 RBI; Hannah Morrison 2 H, 2 RBI.

 

Elimination Games

Grace Academy 101 2 – 4 4 -

Hixson 051 x – 6 6 -

Michaela Penney (H) 1B, 2 RBI; Breonna Elliott (H) 3B.

 

Cleveland 011 0 – 2 4 -

East Ridge 400 1 – 5 7 -

Ashley Irvin (ER) 2-3, 2 RBI, 4 IP, 4 H; Rachel Watkins 2-2; Tot Najeeullah 1B, HR, 2 RBI.

 

Red Bank 104 10 – 6 9 -

Silverdale 110 05 – 7 15 -

Five hits in 5th. Katelyh Couch (SBA) GW RBI, 3-3; Savannah Clay (SBA) 2-run 2B to tie game; Sloane Woodard (SBA) 3 H; Kenzie Cagle (RB) 2-3, 2 RBI.

 

Hixson 107 0 – 8 9 -

East Ridge 002 2 – 4 4 -

Michaela Penney (H) 4 IP, CG, 2 K; 1B, 3B, 3 RBI; Breonna Elliott (H) 1B, 3B, 2 RBI; Forton (ER) 3B, RBI; Abby Tipton 2B.

 

Silverdale 000 100 0 – 1 4 -

Marion County 002 110 x – 4 5 -

Erica O'Kane 7 IP (CG), 6 K; 2 H, 2 RRBI; Allison Meadows (SBA0 2-3, R.