MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - To be sure, Mother Nature had her say Monday when severe thunder storms in Murfreesboro postponed the start of the state 4A softball tournament forcing a radical change in the bracket schedule.
However, after the delay, the Lady Mustangs had their say in a large way Tuesday with a pair of wins to move to semifinal round Wednesday at 11 a.m. CST against the winner of the 9 a.m., loser's bracket contest between Rossview and Page.
The Feisty Fillies, now 34-8, opened the day with a convincing 8-1 win over Page High School and followed up with an afternoon, 6-3, victory over Rossview.
“I am so proud of our girls. That was our goal, obviously, to go 2-0 on the day. We had a game plan and they just executed.,” praised Lady Mustangs wrangler Lauren Limburg. “Boogs” two great ballgames. Gutsy. Gutsy ballgames. Our defense played so solid behind her and we got some key hits.”
Over the course of the grueling day's work, senior Walker Valley pitcher Ryann “Boogs” Presswood spread a little icing on the wins with a double record breaking performance. The right-handed Swifty, who will report to the University of Texas El Paso in the fall, set the Lady Mustangs' career strikeout record recording her of 568th K breaking the record previously held by Sidney Hooper.
Presswood added sprinkles to the icing notching her 215th single season strikeout fan passing the 207 K mark previously held by Ashley Bain.
She also now holds the single season record for Ks with 215 breaking the 207 strikeout mark held by Ashley Bain.
“I am incredibly proud of her. I think it’s a testament to her work ethic, competitive drive, and commitment. She never shies away from the moment. She always wants the ball.,” said Presswood's coach. “I am incredibly proud of the growth both on and off the field that she has made in her four years at walker valley. Again, to break these two records is a huge accomplishment. I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to coach her.”
Lady Mustangs 8, Page 1: The Feisty Fillies started early in the opening game of the day as Karly Blackwell scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first inning.
With two outs in the second, a strong breeze blowing in from right field and a full sun blazing down, caused confusion in the Patriots' infield as misplayed popups and an error led to a 3-0 Walker Valley lead.
Page (24-5) recouped one run in the top half of the top of the third to make it a 3-1 game.
The Lady Mustangs came right back in the lower portion of the inning scoring two markers with doubles by Madison Thomas and Karly Blackwell and singles by Autumn Lanclos and Amy Benson.
The 'Stangs added a single run in the fourth on a bases loaded walk to Lanclos. Vanessa Byers opened the fifth trotting to first after being hit by a pitch, rounded second and stood on third after a sacrifice bunt by Alyssa Davenport. She made it 7-1 scoring on a ground out.
Thomas put the final run on the board with a lead-off walk in the bottom of the sixth. A sacrifice bunt by Lanclos and RBI infield single off the bat of Brylie Davis made it an 8-1 final as the Lady Mustangs sat the Patriots down in order in the top of the seventh.
“I thought we took advantage of getting bunts down and getting the extra base. We were aggressive on the bases,” said Limburg.
Walker Valley 6, Rossview 3: It didn't take long for the “home team” Lady Mustangs to break a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the first inning.
Alyssa Davenport followed a double to left field off the aluminum of Vanessa Byers that bounced off the fence in left field with a two-out line drive that cleared the left-field fence putting the Lady Mustangs out front 2-0.
The margin rose to 3-0 in the bottom of the third when Davenport walked with two outs. Morgan Rice got the RBI with a hot shot to center.
Rossview (17-14) narrowed the margin to 3-2 with three hits and a pair of uncharacteristic Walker Valley miscues.
But the Lady Mustangs made up for the rare stumbles with three runs beginning with a walk to Presswood, who was replaced on the pads by Addyson Trew. A Hawks error put Battle on third. She scored on a bunt single by Lanclos. Thomas, the beneficiary of the misplayed ball, and Anzleigh Battle, who stood I for Thomas on the bases, hustled home to put the Lady Mustangs out front 6-2.
The Hawks picked up a single run in the final inning before Presswood and company brought down the Birds to close out the day.
“Those were two very emotional up and down ballgames and for our girls to come out on top, I'm just incredibly proud of,” state the Fillies' coach. “We can enjoy this for the next couple of hours, but tomorrow we've got to come ready to go.”
Walker Valley 8, Page 1
Page 001 000 0 — 1 4 3
Walker Valley 122 111 x — 8 12 0
WP: Ryann Presswood LP: Ashley Johnson 2B: Adriana Callahan, Jacie Linden, Izzy Melton (P); Madison Thomas, Karly Blackwell (WV). HIGHLIGHTS: Linden RS (P); Blackwell 3-5 2RS RBI, Benson RS, Vanessa Byers RS, Morgan Rice RBI, Thomas 2RS, Autumn Lanclos 2-3 RS, Brylie Davis 2RBI, Addyson Trew RS (WV).
Walker Valley 6, Rossview 3
Rossview 000 200 1 — 3 7 2
Walker Valley 201 003 x — 6 8 3
WP: Ryann Presswood LP: Avery Rauscher 2B: McKenzie Quick (R); Brylie Davis, Vanessa Byers (WV). HIGHLIGHTS: Evon Dowlen 2-4 RBI, Maddy Fillers RS, Kennedy Scott RS, Kylee Gillette RBI, Addy Waller RBI (R); Byers RS, Alyssa Davenport 1-2 RS 2RBI, Madison Thomas RS, Autumn Lanclos RBI Davis 2-2 2RBI, Addyson Trew RS, Anzleigh Battle RS (WV).
(Contact Richard Roberts at richardvol55@yahoo.com)