Natalie Pruitt threw a four-hit shutout and designated player Bailey Smith drove in the game’s only run with a sixth-inning single – a rocket past first base – and Walker Valley escaped with a 1-0 softball victory over Central on Tuesday.
The Lady Mustangs (15-9) posted their second straight non-district win – they beat Red Bank 4-2 on Monday – and return to District 5-3A action Wednesday at Ooltewah.
“I was a little frustrated after my second strikeout,” Smith said.
“I got up the third time and just let those two at-bats go. The pitch was a little outside and I felt really excited we scored a run.”
With Pruitt and Parrott mowing down batters like high-powered pitching machines, it appeared one run might win the game. However, it wasn’t certain either team was going to score.
“That hit in the sixth says a lot about Bailey maturing as a hitter,” Walker Valley coach Lauren Limburg said. “You have to have a short memory as a hitter. I’m really proud of her for getting that hit.”
Central (10-6) lost despite Brooke Parrott’s superlative four-hit, 17-strikeout performance.
“I felt like we were ready to play today,” said Parrott, whose season- and career-high strikeout total was 22 against Silverdale Baptist Academy. “We just couldn’t score a run. I made a bad throw and Kerri (catcher Sylvester) made one in the sixth inning. The runner never should have gotten to third.”
As a result of the costly throwing miscues, the Lady Mustangs’ run was unearned.
It still counted, though.
“We shouldn’t have given up that run,” Central coach LeeAnne Shurette said, frustration evident in her voice. “Brooke keeps us in games – she pitches every game – and she pitched way too good for us not to win that game.
“But we have to be determined at the plate to get hits with girls in scoring position. We’ve had a bunch of one-run games and the six runs we gave up (Monday) against Ooltewah were the most we’ve allowed all year.”
Walker Valley had one hit – Riley Suits’ single up the middle in the first – through five innings. By that time Parrott had 13 strikeouts, including five straight during one stretch.
Parrott walked Suits to open the decisive sixth.
Walker Valley shortstop Laney Harris popped up a bunt and Sylvester made the catch and threw toward first trying to double up Suits. However, the throw struck Harris, who was unaware of the catch, in the back while running toward first. Suits went to second on the play.
After a Parrott pitch got away from Sylvester, the Lady Pounders catcher tossed the ball back to Parrott. She threw to second trying to get Suits and the ball went into the outfield. Suits wound up at third.
Parrott fanned Kaylee Hughes for the second out.
On a 3-1 offering, Smith ripped a line drive past first baseman Tatum Morgan, who didn’t have time to even react, and Suits jogged home with the run.
“At some point you have to give Walker Valley credit,” Shurette said. “We made some mistakes and their girl came up with the big hit. Their pitcher threw a great game too.”
Said Limburg of the win, “I have to credit our base running, going from first to third on their errors, in the inning we scored. This was a big step for us to finally finish off a seven-inning game. We’re a young team and this could help us.”
The Lady Mustangs got a walk and Katelyn Howell’s double in the seventh, but Parrott struck out Sydney Ventura – every Walker Valley player whiffed at least once – for the fourth time and Suits popped up to third baseman Kayla Henderson to end the threat.
Pruitt allowed only one runner past first base and that was Gracee Webb in the first. Webb reached on an infield single and went to second on Parrott’s hit. She gave up singles to Sylvester in the fourth and to Jada Taylor in the sixth with two out.
Pruitt got the final four outs on infield grounders, including three straight to Kayla Henderson in the seventh.
“I did a really good job hitting my spots low in the (strike) zone,” Pruitt said. “I knew they were aggressive hitters, but I was in a groove from the beginning.”
Did Pruitt think one run could win the game?
“Yes, I did,” she said.
Pruitt, who struck out four and walked none, made sure Central didn’t score that run.
LINESCORE
Walker Valley 000 001 0 – 1 3 0
Central 000 000 0 – 0 4 3
Pruitt and Suits; Parrott and Sylvester.
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)