CAK Beats Soddy-Daisy, 6-2, For Choo Choo Classic Softball Title

Lady Warriors Rally After Lady Trojans' Beasley Ties Game With Two-Run Homer

  • Saturday, April 18, 2015
  • Larry Fleming
Soddy-Daisy freshman Meagan Beasley rounds third after hitting a two-run, game-tying home run against Christian Academy of Knoxville in Saturday's championship game of the Choo Choo Classic. CAK won the game, 6-2.
Soddy-Daisy freshman Meagan Beasley rounds third after hitting a two-run, game-tying home run against Christian Academy of Knoxville in Saturday's championship game of the Choo Choo Classic. CAK won the game, 6-2.
photo by Dennis Norwood

Christian Academy of Knoxville finished its run through the rain-shortened Choo Choo Classic with a 6-2 victory over Soddy-Daisy at The Summitt.

Three of the Lady Warriors’ runs in the third – and last – inning came on Lady Trojans errors as the 70-minute time limit on the game expired to cap a marathon day in the tournament that was cut from two to one day by heavy rain earlier in the week.

“We went all out on trying to get that double play there,” Soddy-Daisy coach Wes Skiles said.

“With time running out we had to at least take a chance.”

CAK (19-3), riding an eight-game winning streak, had taken a 4-2 lead earlier in the third.

Kayla Domon singled, went to second on a Hannah DeVault single, moved to third on a Jordan Woodward’s wild pitch and scored on second baseman Abby Walker’s fielding error on a grounder hit by Lauren Gentry.

And DeVault, who has hit 15 home runs this season, went to second on Walker’s misplay, to third on Allison Zimmerman’s bloop hit into shallow right field and came home when Delaney Brown hit into a fielder’s choice.

With Zimmerman on third, Brown on second and Caroline Cavin on third – all while the scoreboard clocked ticked off the game’s final seconds, Paige Simpson smacked a grounder to third, the Lady Trojans got the out at home, but catcher Cam Swafford’s throw to first trying to the double play sailed into right field and Brown and Cavin scored.

“CAK is a great team,” Skiles said. “When we found out we were playing them I was glad. When we played them a second time I was ecstatic. From top to bottom, they have a very tough lineup.

“I don’t know our record, but we’re all about playing quality teams. That’s what we’re all about.”

Skiles pointed out his team’s final week of the regular season includes games against Silverdale Baptist, Baylor, Ooltewah and Walker Valley.

The Lady Warriors reached the title game by beating host East Hamilton, 11-4. CAK scored eight runs in the second inning, highlighted by solo and three-run homers by Gentry, her fourth and fifth long-balls of the season.

“We’ve had a lot of rainouts this week and practiced hitting indoors every day,” CAK coach Dayna Carter said. “We heard there was a chance of rain for the tournament, but we were really excited today about being outside and getting some innings in the dirt. To play five games and go unbeaten is good for us.”

Earlier in the day, CAK beat the Lady Trojans, 3-0, on a three-run homer as time ran out.

Soddy-Daisy slipped into the championship by clipping Bearden, 2-1.  

CAK got to Soddy-Daisy starter Shonna Penney for two runs in the first inning. Penney walked Emma Webb and Domon to dig herself a hole.

Penney struck out DeVault, but gave up back-to-back RBI singles by Gentry and Zimmerman.

Skiles pulled Penney and put Woodward in the circle. Woodward retired Delaney Brown and Cavin on infield grounders to quell the early CAK attack.

Woodward got the Lady Warriors in order in the second, but the successive singles by Domon and DeVault quickly spelled trouble in the decisive third inning.

Zimmerman held the Lady Trojans to three hits, one each by Beasley, Macy Bryant  and Alexis Trimiar.

The Lady Warriors got to three Soddy-Daisy pitchers for five hits, two by Zimmerman – singles in the first and third innings.

CAK 11, East Hamilton 4: Gentry simply mauled the Lady Hurricanes in the eight-run second inning.

She led off the second with a towering solo blast to center field.

Zimmerman walked and Brown followed with an RBI double to right. Jenica Brown added a two-run single to center, pushing the score to 4-0. When East Hamilton starter Tori Barnes uncorked a wild pitch, Jenica Brown scored to give the Lady Warriors a 5-0 advantage and chase Barnes.

Whitney Richardson came on in relief.

Doman beat out a slow roller to third base and Gentry smacked the three-run homer of the inning.

“Lauren is one of our seniors and a heck of a leader,” coach Carter said. “She can play anywhere on the field we put her. We don’t have much depth with our pitching and she’s very capable of helping us there. If we need her to play shortstop, she can do that as well.”

Jenica Brown later laced a two-run single to left and the Lady Warriors were safely out front 10-0.

Delaney Brown added a solo home run in the fourth inning.

East Hamilton avoided a shutout by scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning off Gentry, who moved from catcher to the circle in relief of Zimmerman.

Lady Hurricanes catcher Emma Brooks ripped a two-run double to right-center field, Savannah Daniel drove in a run with a fielder’s choice and Miracle Gorman singled to center to score Samantha Murray.

“I haven’t hit two home runs in the same inning since I was playing 12-under ball,” said Gentry, who will attend the University of Tennessee, but will not play college softball. “I was looking for the pitches I wanted to hit and just tried to make contact.

“I’m proud of the team for getting to the title game. We fought through the weather and it means a lot to us.”

East Hamilton coach Norma Nelson knew CAK had power.

“We talked with different people and they all said CAK hit the ball really well and they certainly did today against us,” Nelson said. “We don’t have a lot of pitching and what we do have got tired today. One thing I have to say is we really appreciated the Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department doing such a good job getting the fields ready today.”

Heavy rain forced the two-day tournament to be shortened to one day. One team, American Christian Academy, dropped out after the postponement of Friday’s games.

Note: East Hamilton, Soddy-Daisy and Cleveland used tourney games to count in their District 5-AAA standings. Cleveland actually got in two league games by playing both the Lady Hurricanes and Lady Trojans.

Rain has played havoc with outdoor baseball and softball games all spring and all across the state.

LINESCORE

Championship Game

Soddy-Daisy                   020 – 2 3 2

Christian Academy     204 – 6 5 0

Penney, Woodward (1), Edwards (3) and Swafford; Zimmerman and Gentry.

(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44) 

 

Macy Bryant of Soddy-Daisy is caught in a rundown between second and third in the second inning of Saturday's title game against CAK in the Choo Choo Classic. Bryant reached on a single starting the second inning.
Macy Bryant of Soddy-Daisy is caught in a rundown between second and third in the second inning of Saturday's title game against CAK in the Choo Choo Classic. Bryant reached on a single starting the second inning.
photo by Dennis Norwood
Latest Headlines
Sports
Chattanooga Women Third At Spring Break Shootout
  • 3/18/2024

The Chattanooga Mocs got off to a solid start at the Spring Break Shootout. The ladies are 4 under on Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club’s South Course carding 280 over the opening 18 and 284 ... more

Sweetwater's Keke Norfolk Signs With Cleveland State
Sweetwater's Keke Norfolk Signs With Cleveland State
  • 3/18/2024

Keke Norfolk of Sweetwater High School signed a National Letter of Intent with the Cleveland State women’s basketball team this past week. Norfolk a 5’9” guard/forward, becomes the first signee ... more

Vol Baseball Win Streak Ends At 17 At Alabama
  • 3/18/2024

No. 5/5 Tennessee's 17-game winning streak came to an end with a 6-3 loss to No. 12/14 Alabama on Saturday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide (16-3, 1-1 SEC) ... more