Champion Lady Irish team. Click to enlarge all our photos.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish softball team won five games Saturday and claimed first place in the Athens Invitational Softball Tournament.
They defeated Knox Catholic (5-3) in the final game of pool play. Then in the single elimination tournament Notre Dame beat Karns (4-1), McMinn County (6-1), Tennessee High (5-2), and in the championship game, Morristown East, (5-0).
"This was a great weekend for our girls and our program," said second-year Irish head coach Howie Sompayrac.
"I am so proud of all of them. Who would have thought that after two tough losses on Friday night (in pool play) that we would run the table and win the championship. We had two bad innings on Friday night that cost us against two good teams, Cumberland County (12-2) and Morristown East (8-3). On Saturday morning I told the girls we were leaving too many on base and not making big plays defensively, and we needed someone to step up. I think Christy Jordan's dramatic home run shot in the bottom of the eighth against Karns is what really got us ignited. After that, I felt like the whole team stepped up their game."
Christy Jordan was the tournament MVP as she was 13-20 at the plate with 10 RBIs, four doubles, one home run, five runs scored, and five stolen bases. Also on the All-Tournament team were Regina Willis, Lauren Minter, Shareese Burdette and Kirsten Fox.
Regina Willis pitched a shutout in the championship game. She had five strikeouts and only gave up five hits. Willis also claimed pitching wins against Knoxville Catholic and McMinn County. "Regina had a dominant performance in the championship game," said Coach Sompayrac. "For her to come through like that after such a long day and in such cold temperatures (it felt like it was 40 degrees out there), is a testament to her heart and competitiveness. Time and time again, she finds a way to win the big game. I am so proud of Regina."
Sophomore Lauren Minter posted two stellar pitching performances against Karns and Tennessee High. Minter only gave up five hits in each of her wins. "Lauren seems to get better and better each time she steps out on the mound. She is such a gutsy competitor. Karns and Tennessee High were a combined 7-1 in the tournament, so those two wins were huge for Lauren and us," said Coach Sompayrac.
Another star for the Irish was Shareese Burdette. Shareese was 11 for 23 with one triple, five doubles, seven RBIs and six runs scored. Kirsten Fox was 9 for 22 on the weekend with one triple, three doubles and six RBIs.
The Lady Irish are now 7-3 on the season.
Senior pitcher Regina Willis won three of the five games Notre Dame played Saturday, including the shutout in the championship game.