Silverdale catcher Gabbie Hensley (14) runs to embrace pitcher Bita Cox (3) while another member of the team, Macie Williams (33) joins them to celebrate the Lady Seahawks win in the second game of a double header, which places them in the DII-A softball Final Four.
photo by Joy Fisk
It was a good night for the Lady Seahawks Wednesday night as they hosted a state quarterfinal game against Columbia Academy. They brought their A-game, playing aggressively, showing why they have been state champions two years running. The Seahawks’ shortstop Emry Masterson led off with strong hitting and a talent for stealing bases, Bita Cox pitched two full games only allowing the Bulldogs to score twice in the second game and not at all in the first, and Jayliyah Whitaker at third base highlighted the Seahawks’ strong team defense. Though the Bulldogs had some strong hitting and a good defense, they could not overcome the triple threat the Seahawks posed.
In game one, Silverdale scored two runs in the first inning and three runs in the second, making it clear they came to win. Masterson had the first run, scoring on an error by second baseman Rudy Cothran when Bita Cox hit a pop fly. But that run was only possible because she had gained two additional bases after her single. Heidi Bryant singled on a line drive, allowing Braylee Raby to score the second run of the inning. In the second inning, Eliana Phillips scored on a ground ball by Masterson, Ali Weber scored on a sacrifice fly by Jaliyah Whitaker, and Masterson scored again after having gained two bases when Braylee Raby singled on a ground ball.
Masterson was excited for her team and somewhat surprised at her own aggressive play, as she said stolen bases aren’t typical for her. “I felt really good going into the game. We played the best we have played all season this past week at Lakeway in region, so I knew we had what it took to win this series. We have worked so hard so I was really confident in our bats.”
Columbia was scoreless the entire game, and even though they kept the Seahawks from scoring in the next four innings, the damage had already been done. Columbia lost the game to the Seahawks 5-0.
With the sense of momentum theirs, Silverdale came out strong in the second game, earning three runs in the first inning. Masterson again scored the first run when catcher Gabbie Hensley doubled on a fly ball. Raby scored the second run on a sacrifice fly by Bryant, and Phillips scored the third run of the inning.
After the first inning, the Seahawks kept up the pressure, earning one run in every inning for the next four, with the Bulldogs responding with two single-run innings of their own in the second and third innings. But a combination of strong defense and solid pitching by Cox kept the Bulldogs from gaining any real headway, and they lost the second game seven to two.
After the game, the head coach of the Lady Seahawks Jackie Freelend called the win “a total team effort - from the people on the bench to the people on the field.” When asked what made the biggest difference tonight, she said, “I think it was pitching, our bats have really just come alive the past few days, and then Bita and Gabbie -they caught and pitched all fourteen innings, so that’s just amazing.”
The Seahawks’ Pitcher Bita Cox looked strong in the circle, even towards the end of the second game, when she had to be flagging. She said she felt confident coming into tonight’s game because “I knew they had my bat in offense and they also had my back in defense.” When asked how she managed to pitch so many innings and if she ever felt like she needed to quit, she said, “I thought, in the middle, I was quite tired, but I told myself - me and [catcher] Gabbie, we told each other -we're not gonna stop until we both stop. So that made me keep going.”
For the Columbia Academy team, it was the end of their season, so there were lots of tears and hugs, especially for the four seniors who were not only done with this season, but done playing ball for the Bulldogs.
Anna Brewer, a pitcher for Columbia, said, “It's bittersweet. I mean, we came out here and did all that we could, and then it just sucks for the seniors especially.” She clearly loves her team and hated the thought of saying goodbye. When asked what made her team special, she said, “I just think our ability to come together and overcome things. We've had some hard moments throughout our whole high school, like career, everything, like moving together. So just being able to come together when times get tough, I think, that makes us so special.”
Coach Catherine Huey of the Bulldogs was proud of her team and their successful season leading up to the state quarterfinal. “They fought really hard. I knew that we were going to have to show up tough and we were going to have to play tough because they're [the Seahawks] are a really good team. They always are. They have good coaching and a good program. And so we told them, we said, you got nothing to lose. Go out there and play as hard as you can, play together, do what we always do. And I think they did. I mean, we didn't get the outcome that we wanted, but they stuck together and they didn't lay down. They played well.”
The Lady Seahawks have their sights set on Murfreesboro and the state championship. Coach Freelend, who was beaming and hugging her players after the win, is optimistic about their chances. “I always tell them when we play together and play like you have heart, you can do anything.”
Game one:
Columbia 000 000 0 - 0 1 3
Silverdale 230 000 x – 5 7 0
Brewer, King (2) and Wilhelm; Cox and Hensley
Game two:
Silverdale 311 110 0 – 7 13 1
Columbia 011 000 0 – 2 8 0
King, Brewer (2) and Cothran; Cox and Hensley