You can now add Sale Creek to the growing list of Hamilton County softball teams that have qualified for next week’s Spring Fling state championship in Murfreesboro.
The Lady Panthers joined teams from Silverdale, Baylor, GPS and Chattanooga Christian with a big win over Greenback on Saturday afternoon at Sale Creek’s Ruth and Clifford Kirk Field.
Red Bank became the sixth area team to advance after a stirring 5-2 win over Upperman Saturday night.
Sale Creek had won its last two games by one run in winning another region title, but Saturday’s game wasn’t close as the Lady Panthers scored at least one run in five of six times to bat in a 6-0 shutout over the Lady Cherokees.
Sale Creek is now 23-9 while Greenback’s season ends at 12-15.
Olivia Day, a 14-year-old freshman, was the winning pitcher as she went the distance and scattered five hits while striking out five and walking one.
Her team gave her a 1-0 lead in the first inning and that advantage kept growing the rest of the game.
First-year head coach Nikki Robbs had the utmost confidence in her team long before the first pitch was thrown. Turns out the former All-State pitcher from Soddy Daisy was right on the money with those pre-game feelings.
“I knew that we would pull it off as we were ready to play today,” Robbs said after several team photos were taken.
“Everyone on the team played great and they got the job done. Our goal is much more than just winning this game, but to win a state championship next week. We’re all excited about that possibility, but these girls deserve it as they’ve worked hard all season,” Robbs added with a smile.
Day also had a smile on her face after her team had played its last home game of the year.
“We just came out and kicked some butt today,” she said matter of factly.
“I feel like we all did a good job and performed like we’re capable. I had to fight hard for my team and it paid off,” Day nodded.
Shelby Sullivan is one of four Sale Creek seniors who was playing her last game, joined by teammates Allison Smith, Hannah Skiles and Trista Frazier.
She was also one of three Lady Panthers who had two hits.
“This was a deal-breaker for us as we knew we had to win to keep playing,” said the 18-year-old right fielder who had two singles and scored the final run in the sixth inning.
“I had no doubt that we would pull it out as we all showed up ready to play this morning. I texted the other seniors this morning telling them that it’s been a great experience for me to be able to play with them and that my high school career couldn’t have been better.
“But we got off to a lead early and stayed on top the rest of the way, which was much easier than the last two games where we won by one run,” said the senior who has started the last four years for the Lady Panthers and will continue her softball career at Cleveland State next year.
Smith led off Sale Creek’s half of the first inning with a single and went to second on a single by Alexis Raines. A fly to right by Sullivan moved Smith to third and she scored the first run when Brooke Raines flied to center for the second out.
Brooke Williford doubled with two outs in the second and Frazier walked to put runners on first and second. Smith’s second single drove in Williford with the second run while Frazier scored on a Greenback error.
Brooke Raines walked in the third and scored on a double by Day while Williford’s single in the fifth plated Day, who had singled with two outs and gone to second on another single by May Wilson.
Sullivan picked up her second hit of the day with two outs in the sixth and went to third on an error on the same play. Brooke Raines then drove in the final run of the game with a single.
While Day was the winning pitcher, southpaw freshman Jennifer Jones was the loser after allowing all six runs on a dozen hits.
Williford led the way for the Sale Creek offense with three hits while Smith, Day and Sullivan all had two each.
Maddy Hood had three of Greenback’s five hits.
GREENBACK 000 000 0 – 0 5 3
SALE CREEK 121 011 x – 6 12 0
Jones and Hammontree; Day and Skiles.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)