Parrott Pitches Central To Fourth Straight Region Title

Senior Has 15 Strikeouts As Lady Pounders Win 3-0 Over Sweetwater

  • Wednesday, May 17, 2017
  • John Hunt

Central senior Brooke Parrott had her usual outstanding pitching performance in the Region 3-AA final Wednesday evening at Central.

Parrott held the hard-hitting Sweetwater Lady Wildcats to just three hits as her Lady Purple Pounder teammates posted a 3-0 victory to earn another home game.

With the win, Central improves to 27-9 overall with its fourth straight region title.  The Lady Pounders will be at home again on Thursday to host a sectional game with the Macon County Tigerettes.  The game had originally been scheduled for Friday, but with predicted rain and upcoming graduation ceremonies, it was moved up a day.

Sweetwater falls to 19-10 overall and will be on the road Friday to play at Dekalb County.

Parrott has been an outstanding pitcher since the first day she donned a Purple Pounder uniform, but she’s really stepped up her game in this her final season.

She finished the latest triumph with 15 strikeouts and one walk, which is about par for the course for the Tennessee Tech-bound blonde.

“We came out ready to play today and it was so nice for us to score the first run.  I was especially motivated today because we had won the region the last three years and I wanted to win it one more time.  I’m excited and feel like I pitched pretty well.  And I’m so happy we get to play one more time here on our field,” the 18-year-old senior nodded.

Central took the lead with a single run in the first inning.  Kerri Sylvester reached on a one-out bunt single and scored on a single by Mikayla Gill with two outs.

Then in the third, Ina Henderson led off with a walk and scored on a double by Sylvester.  Parrott then reached on a Sweetwater error as courtesy runner Jada Taylor raced around to score.

Three runs was more than enough for Parrott.

Sweetwater coach Sarah Davies was quick to praise Parrott and her pitching ability.

“The bottom line is that Brooke Parrott is the real deal.  We have a team of good hitters and had the highest team batting average in the state at one point, but we haven’t faced pitching like that all year.  She got us today,” Davies said following a discussion with her team.

“Our defense cost us as they scored off of our errors, but we aren’t finished yet.  We still have a game to play on Friday, but we just have to step up and take care of business,” she added.

Central coach LeeAnne Shurette is just hoping that her team is putting all the pieces together at the right time.

“I just wanted these girls to realize what they just accomplished with four straight region titles.  That’s a big deal as far as I’m concerned,” the veteran coach began.

“It seems like we improve every time we play, but we’re beginning to come around.  We’ve struggled at times offensively, but I thought we were a bit more disciplined at the plate today.

“We made a few mistakes on defense, but we didn’t let them get out of hand.  But it’s hard to play defense behind Brooke because the other doesn’t hit it very often.  But we’re just happy to be playing at home one more time,” Shurette concluded with a smile.

While Parrott was the winning pitcher, freshman Addie Lowe took the loss after allowing the three runs on seven hits.  She also had six strikeouts and two walks.

Shortstop Hana Robbins had singles in the third and sixth innings, but she didn’t have much help as Emily Barnes had the only other hit for the Lady Cats, a one-out single in the fourth.

Sylvester had three of Central’s seven hits.  Gill had two singles while Amanda Roy and Parrott both had one single each.

SWEETWATER   000 000 0 – 0 3 2

CENTRAL  102 000 x – 3 7 2

Lowe and Key; Parrott and Sylvester.

(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

Sports
UTC Sofbtall Hosts ETSU In Friday Doubleheader
  • 3/28/2024

The Chattanooga softball team returns to Frost Stadium for a seven-game home stand that begins Friday afternoon against East Tennessee State in Southern Conference action. The Mocs are 21-8 ... more

Covenant Men's Tennis Loses 6-3
  • 3/28/2024

The Covenant Scots looked to boost their nonconference tennis resume with a win on the road at Oglethorpe. Covenant was unable to get the job done, as it fell 3-6. Final: Covenant 3, Oglethorpe ... more

7 Football Mocs Participate In Annual Pro Day
  • 3/28/2024

The Chattanooga Mocs had a 7-man contingent go through their paces in front of NFL scouts at the annual Pro Day. It started in the Wolford Family Strength & Conditioning Center before shifting ... more