Walker Valley scored a run for every hit and made an early evening of it Wednesday at Larry Haney Field as the Lady Mustangs took a 9-0 run-rule win in five innings over visiting Signal Mountain in non-district softball action.
The Feisty Fillies improved their record to 20-6 while the Lady Eagles fell to to 4-11.
Senior right-hand hurler Ryan “Boogs” Presswood was again impressive in the circle giving up just two hits while striking out nine Eagles with one extra base hit ad one base on balls.
“I'm just really proud of the girls.
It was a great team effort. Awe played solid defense and “Boogs” pitched a great ballgame. We scored some runners who got into scoring position,” said Lady Mustangs head coach Lauren Limburg.
The Lady 'Stangs, after a scoreless first inning, went to work in the bottom of the second with a lead-off bunt single by Nessa Byers. Presswood did the job at the plate with an RBI double to right field scoring Byers to make it 1-0. Addyson Trew, in as a courtesy runner for Presswood, made it 2-0 on a sacrifice fly by Madison Thomas. Autumn Lancloss, who reached on the first of six Signal Mountain miscues, made it 3-0 crossing home on a two RBI double to left off the bat of Karly Blackwell.
Walker Valley added another tally in the bottom of the third when Presswood came through once again scoring courtesy runner Anzleigh Battle with a safety to right.
The onslaught continued in the bottom half of the fourth as Blackwell trotted to first on a lead-off walk and hustled to third on a perfectly placed Amy Benson bunt single. Both runners raced home on a double down the left-field line off the metal of Alyssa Davenport, who ran the score to 7-0 racing home on a Signal miscue.
Davenport ended her afternoon with four runs batted in.
Blackwell started off the final inning with a safety to left and stood on third thanks to a Benson bunt single. Davenport put an end to the day's activity with a single to right that scofred Blackwell and Benson.
Afterward, Limburg praised the smart baserunning and defensive play of her Lady Mustangs.
“I want them to be aggressive and take the extra base. We talk a lot about that. I think they executed that really well today,” she said. “Defensively, our girls are very talented and they make the plays they are supposed to make and they made some outstanding plays. The discipline they have to check runners back and make those plays. They know what to do and when to do it. As a coach I'm just really proud of that.”
The Lady Mustangs are scheduled to jump back insot the district schedule Thursday, weather permitting, with a trip to Cleveland. The Fillies will enjoy a rare weekend off before hitting the diamond again Monday on the road at Soddy-Daisy.
“We've got Cleveland tomorrow at Cleveland so we're looking forward to another district game. All district games are big,” said Limburg. “We're excited to have a weekend off. We've played two weekends in a row. We've got this weekend off and we'll start back again on Monday.”
Signal Mountain 000 00 — 0 2 6
Walker Valley 031 32 — 9 9 0
WP: Ryan Presswood LP: Avery LaPort 2B: B. Roddy (SM); Presswood, Alyssa Davenport (WV) HIGHLIGHTS: Roddy 1-1, La Port 1-2 (SM); Karly Blackwell 2-3 2RS, Amy Benson 2RS, Davenport 2-4 RS 4RBI, Morgan Rice RBI, Nessa RS, Addyson Trew RS, Autumn Lancloss RS, Anzleigh Battle RS (WV). RECORDS: Signal Mountain 4-11; Walker Valley 20-6.