If you want to see an outstanding high school softball team in action, maybe you should make plans to head to Murfreesboro next week for a chance to watch the Silverdale Lady Seahawks.
This team didn't make it to the Spring Fling the last two years, but they'll be there this time after posting a 17-0 romp over the Gordonsville Lady Tigers in five innings Saturday afternoon at Silverdale.
It was a fitting final home game for four Silverdale seniors and they celebrated in style as they combined for a dozen hits and 11 runs batted in.
"We were excited and ready play. They started showing up at the field about 1 and we didn't play until 5, but we sort of had to hold them back a little bit," said Silverdale coach Tim Couch after his team improved to 37-3 with its seventh straight win.
"These girls are having fun these days and they're so excited about going to Murfreesboro. We should have been there the last two years, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be, but we've had 48 hits in our last three games and so fitting for our seniors to go out like they did in their final game here," he continued.
Sophomore pitcher Shelby Duggard remained unbeaten in 14 decisions as she went the distance and allowed three hits while striking out 11.
Her teammates didn't waste any time taking charge as they sent 16 batters to the plate in the first inning and scored 11 runs.
Lindsey Newell, one of those seniors, slugged a two-run homer in that first inning and finished the day with four hits and three runs batted in.
Fellow senior Elise Pearson had a three-run double in that first inning and also had four hits as she collected six RBIs. Taylor Moran and Ali Birchfield, the other two seniors, had two hits apiece with Moran slugging a two-run homer in the third and finishing the day with four runs driven in. Birchfield had a pair of singles and drove in one run while stealing two bases and scoring twice.
Lexie Vogel, a promising eighth grader, had two hits for the Lady Seahawks while Emily Harkleroad drove in a run with a double and also scored three times.
"This team has really overcome a lot of adversity as Elise didn't get to play until about a month ago after suffering a torn labrum in her shoulder. But this is the best group of young ladies I've ever coached in any sport and I really like our chances next week," Couch concluded.
While Silverdale broke out with that 11-run first inning, they scored two in the third before ending it with four runs in the fourth.
(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)