CHARLESTON, Tenn. -- The Walker Valley Lady Mustangs are heating up at just the right time as the regular season softball schedule slides into the final couple of weeks.
After taking care of business with a 15-1 District 5-4A shellacking of McMinn County in the first meeting of the season, the Feisty Fillies followed up with a 12-1 five inning run-rule dismantling of the Lady Cherokees to take the season series Tuesday at Larry Haney Field.
The Lady Mustangs now stand at 22-6 on the season with a 4-1 district mark. The Lady 'Kees fell to 6-12, 1-4 with the loss.
Walker Valley controlled the tempo from the outset adding 10 runs to a 2-0 first inning lead with four in the second, four in the third and a final two scores in the fourth.
The Lady 'Stangs equaled the number of runs with the same number of hits without the benefit of an extra base smack.
Defensively, the Lady Mustangs sparked with a plethora of outstanding efforts from the infield as well as the outfield. Right fielder Brylie Davis sparkled in the deep corner with a pair of back-to-back-to-back highlight reel moves. With a runner on first, Davis battled a strong breeze that pushed a McMinn shot to the fence in right where she made the catch then fired the ball all the way to first for a double play. Davis completed the trifecta with a diving catch on a line drive to end the inning preserving a 6-1 Walker Valley lead.
“I am just incredibly impressed day-in-and-day-out with the defensive plays they make. There were several plays across the infield and across the outfield today. I think it goes to how much they work on their own both defensively and offensively and it pays off in games. We talked about that before the game,” bragged head coach Lauren Limburg. “This team practices outside of regular practice probably more than any other team I've ever had and it's really showing in the games. Our seniors and our juniors are leading the charge in that and it's trickling down to everybody else. I told them before the game how proud I am of them for the work they put in outside of practice to improve their skills.”
Winning pitcher Ryan “Boogs” Presswood went four innings in the circle before handing the stitches over to Haley Davis, who closed out the win. Presswood gave up six hits to the Cherokees along with one walk and one earned run. Davis allowed a one out single before getting a pair of ground balls to end the afternoon.
McMinn's lone run came on a based loaded fielder's choice in the top of the second that made it a 2-1 game.
The Lady Mustangs opened with a pair of tallies in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Nessa Byers and an RBI ground ball by Presswood.
A base on balls to Madison Thomas in the bottom of the second sparked a four run rally by the Fillies as Amy Benson, singled home a run. Karly Blackwell and Benson both crossed home on McMinn miscues. Byers made it 6-1 thanks to another Presswood ground ball.
Davis, Madison Thomas and Blackwell led off the Walker Valley half of the third with singles and upped the lead to 9-1. Byers picked up the fourth hit of the frame and made it a 10-1 game courtesy of a Presswood smack to center.
Autumn Lanclos and Davis put the final runs of the day on the board with Lanclos racing home on a Blackwell hit and Davis stretching the Walker Valley lead to 12-1 on a ground ball.
Blackwell showed out at the plate wit a 4-for-4 day with two RBIs and three runs scored. Davis was 2-3 with a pair of runs scored.
“I think they are (coming into their stride). We talk all the time about it not being a sprint, it's definitely a marathon. It's just one game at a time,” said Limburg. “This was a great district win and now we've got Signal Mountain tomorrow. We've got to flush this and go play Signal Mountain tomorrow.”
The Lady Mustangs return home against region foe East Hamilton Thursday at 5 p.m.
Game Summary
McMinn County 100 00 — 1 7 2
Walker Valley 244 2x — 12 12 1
WP: Ryan Presswood LP: Bailey Derrick 2B: Lilly Wilhite (MC) HIGHLIGHTS: Macy Bobich 2-3 (MC); Karly Blackwell 4-4 3RS 2RBI, Amy Benson RS 3RBI, Vanessa Byers 2-2 3RS 2RBI, Presswood 3RBI, Autumn Lanclos RS, Brylie Davis 2-3 2RS, Madison Thomas 2RS. RECORDS: McMinn County 6-12, 1-4 district 5-4A; Walker Valley 22-6, 4-1.