Johnson Homers Twice As Baylor Beats Silverdale, 4-2

Kayla Hughes Gets Game-Winning Hit In Tight Non-District Win

  • Tuesday, May 3, 2016
  • John Hunt
Baylor's A.J. Johnson strikes for one of her two homeruns against Silverdale Baptist Academy in a game played Tuesday evening at the Lady Seahawks' field. With the 4-2 win the Lady Red Raiders climb to 27-4 on the season, while Silverdale "falls" to 30-3.
Baylor's A.J. Johnson strikes for one of her two homeruns against Silverdale Baptist Academy in a game played Tuesday evening at the Lady Seahawks' field. With the 4-2 win the Lady Red Raiders climb to 27-4 on the season, while Silverdale "falls" to 30-3.
photo by Dennis Norwood

There’s nothing more fun than covering a softball game featuring two outstanding teams, ones who can get clutch hits, pitch through tough situations and even make spectacular defensive plays when the game is on the line.

That was the case at Silverdale Tuesday afternoon where the Lady Seahawks were hosting the Baylor Lady Red Raiders.

Silverdale had gone to Baylor on April 7 and recorded a come-from-behind win.  Baylor returned the favor on Tuesday, exceptthe Lady Red Raiders were never behind in this one.

Baylor headed back across the river with the hard-fought 4-2 victory, improving to 27-4, while the Lady Seahawks are now 30-3 with Tuesday’s loss the first since the Ooltewah tournament the first weekend of April.

“That felt good as Silverdale is such a good-hitting team,” said Baylor coach Kelli Smith following the non-district game.

“Kayla Hughes has pitched a lot lately and isn’t really 100 percent right now, so that’s why I decided to pull her in the sixth.  Aaliyah (Henderson) was fantastic as she’s pitched well lately, but it was good to see how she would respond in a tough situation with the game on the line.

“I told my girls that we needed to score a few more runs and that’s when A.J. came through with her second home run.  We always look forward to playing these guys.  It was definitely what we bargained for as it was a great game down to the last pitch,” Smith smiled.

Baylor scored single runs in the first, third, sixth and seventh innings while a two-spot in the fifth was the only time Silverdale crossed the plate.

Cheyenne Lindsey led off the game with a single and promptly stole second before going to third on a bunt single by Abby McNamara.  A.J. Johnson then drove in the first run on a single.

Johnson had a solo homer in the third that almost reached Bonny Oaks Drive for a 2-0 lead and another one in the seventh to give Baylor a two-run lead after Silverdale had tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth.

Maddie Tankersley led off the Silverdale fifth with a walk before Savannah Turner reached on an infield hit, the first hit of the game for the Lady Seahawks.  Skylar Parton lined hard to first for the first out before Ali Birchfield reached on a infield error by Baylor.

That’s when Emily Harkleroad ripped a double off the fence in center to drive in Tankersley and courtesy runner Johanna Davis with the tying runs.

Baylor didn’t waste any time regaining the lead.

Crosby Huckabay reached as the leadoff hitter in the sixth when her fly to right was dropped for an error.  She raced to third on a double to center by Kamrie Rich and scored on a bloop single by Hughes just to the edge of the outfield grass in left.

With Baylor holding a slim 3-2 lead, Elise Pearson ripped a double to lead off the Silverdale sixth, prompting a pitching change where sophomore Henderson replaced Hughes.

Shelby Duggard lined to third for the first out while Pearson was doubled off second for the double play before Henderson got Tankersley on a hard grounder to second to end that threat.

Then in the seventh following Johnson’s second homer of the game and sixth of the season, Turner and Harkleroad both singled around a flyout by Parton.  Birchfield grounded into a fielders choice for the second out while a fly to right from Taylor Moran ended the game.

“I was just a little bit nervous, but I just tried to hit my spots,” said Henderson following the game.

“We just wanted to come over here and beat them after they won at our place, so it feels pretty good,” she added.

Johnson is a junior who certainly isn’t a big girl, but she has deceptive power.

“I was looking for a change-up with two strikes and I think that’s what I got on both home runs.  I knew when I hit them they were gone, but it feels nice to beat these girls,” Johnson expressed.

Silverdale coach Tim Couch didn’t make any excuses for his team, although he knows they had more than one opportunity to score and didn’t.

“We just got beat by a really good softball team and they’re number one for a reason,” he said after everyone had exited the Silverdale dugout.

“We had the one error that killed us and we left the bases loaded once, so we had our chances.  Those two home runs hurt, but we were never able to get in a groove at the plate.  We have nothing to be ashamed of, but we’ll just come back out to practice tomorrow and try to get better,” he added.

Hughes was the winning pitcher after allowing two runs on just three hits.  She also walked four and had one strikeout.  Henderson earned the save with her two scoreless innings.

Moran was the starter and allowed two runs on six hits in four innings.  Harkleroad took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in three innings.

Johnson was the only Baylor player with more than one hit as she finished with three.

Harkleroad and Turner both had two hits for the Lady Seahawks while Pearson’s double was their only other hit.

Baylor will be at home on Wednesday to host Soddy Daisy while Silverdale’s next game will also be at home on Thursday when they host Central.  Both games are set to begin at 5 p.m.

BAYLOR  101 001 1 – 4 9 1

SILVERDALE  000 020 0 – 2 5 1

Hughes, Henderson (6) and Rich; Moran, Harkleroad (5) and Turner.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

 

Baylor's Cheyenne Lindsey is safe at second after eluding the tag of Silverdale's Emily Harkleroad (11). SBA's Shelby Duggard (6) is on-hand to back up the play.
Baylor's Cheyenne Lindsey is safe at second after eluding the tag of Silverdale's Emily Harkleroad (11). SBA's Shelby Duggard (6) is on-hand to back up the play.
photo by Dennis Norwood
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