The Lady Mustangs weren't worried about of few rain drops and an almost two hour delay because of a downpour at the scheduled start time did nothing to dampen their determination when it came to Game 1 of the District 5-4A softball tournament.
The Feitsy Fillies cranked out 14 hits and reached Round 2 of the tournament after a 9-1 win over McMinn County Friday night at Larry Haney Field.
The Lady Mustangs will go against Cleveland Monday at 7 p.m. The Lady Raiders defeated Rhea County to earn the right to face Walker Valley in the semifinal matchup. McMinn and Rhea will open with a 5 p.m., elimination game.
“I'm really proud of our girls,” said Feitsty Fillies wrangler Lauren Limburg. “It was crazy how the game started with the delay and everything, but they brought the energy, they brought the fight, they brought the focus. It was a team effort and a huge win to begin the district tournament.”
Junior Ryann “Boogs” Presswood was again on top of her game out of the circle with a five hit masterpiece. The swift right-hander gave up five hits in the winning effort while striking out eight Lady Cherokees and issuing a single base on balls.
Senior catcher Madi Oran sparkled behind the plate with a game ending pick-off throw to first.
“The last several games we have had really good at bats. I've been telling them that and encouraging them to keep doing what they are doing,” said Limburg. “We just need to continue to do that. Make sure we have good at bats and make sure we hit good pitches.”
The hit parade began for the Lady Mustangs in the bottom of the first inning with Karly Blackwell infield hit and later scored on an Addison Woodall RBI single to center field. Amy Benson reached on an error and stood on third after Woodall's safety. Both runners raced home on a wild pitch and errant throw to pitcher Kenzie Wall covering the plate.
The Lady Mustangs kept the bats hot in the lower half of the third.
Presswood reached on a fielder's choice and was replaced by pinch runner Addyson Trew, who moved to second on a Brylie Davis single. Trew stole third and raced home along with Davis to make it 5-0 thanks to Madison Thomas' single to center.
Morgan Rice followed with another one bagger and ran the score to 6-0 when Autumn Lanclos smacked an RNI single to left.
After sitting the Tribe down in order in the upper portion of the fourth, the Lady Mustangs added one more when Benson rocked a stand-up triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Alyssa Davenport.
McMinn broke the shutout in the top of the fifth on a Kenzie Wall triple and Peyton RBI infield single.
The bottom of the sixth saw Davenport lead off with a single to left. She later scored to on a Presswood double to left make it an 8-1 game. Pinch runner Trew put the final run on the board after a McMinn pitching change and a Davis double off the fence in left.
The Lady Mustangs showed out defensively in the top of the seventh. Blackwell put the second out of the inning on the board with a diving catch in short left field. Minutes later, Oran nailed down the win with a pick-off throw to first to end the game.
“Madi Has been doing that all year. She is a wall behind the plate. She does a great job framing pitches,” said Limburg. “That was just an awesome way to end that game. She makes great throws all the time. I'm really proud of her. Her and “Boogs” work really well together. She's done a great job for us all year.”
Limburg said she is looking for the No. 1-seed Lady Mustangs to carry the momentum into Monday's battle against No. 2-seed Cleveland.
“It's one game at a time, but right now we're 1-0 in this new season and we're excited to compete on Monday,” she stated.
Game Summary
McMinn County 000 010 0 — 1 5 1
Walker Valley 303 310 x — 9 14 1
WP: Ryann Presswood LP: Kensie Wall 3B: Wall (MC); Amy Benson (WV) 2B: Autumn Lanclos, Brylie Davis, Presswood Highlights: Wall 2-2 RS (MC); Karly Blackwell 2-4 RS, Benson 2RS, Alyssa Davenport RS RBI, Addison Woodall 3-3 RS RBI, Presswood 1-2 RBI, Brylie Davis 2-4 RS RBI, Madison Thomas 2-3RS 2RBI, Lanclos RBI, Addydon Trew 2RS.
(Contact Richard Roberts at richardvol55@yahoo.com)