MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It's been a minute since Walker Valley has had a chance to grab the softball state championship gold ball, but here in 2025 the Lady Mustangs have another chance to go for the gold.
Walker Valley battled to the finish line against a determined group of Patriots in the state 4A tournament championship bracket holding on to collect a 10-8 win for a chance at the big prize Friday.
The undefeated Lady Mustangs will face an equally unbeaten Green Hill squad for the title Friday at 12:30 p.m. CST at the Middle Tennessee softball complex.
Walker Valley cruised through the lower tournament bracket with wins over Page (8-1) and Rossview (6-3) before facing Page once again Thursday morning. The going turned out to be a bit rougher the second time around, but the Feisty Fillies held tough when it counted to reach the championship game.
Green Hill (35-3-2) was also impressive moving through the upper bracket with wins over Stewarts Creek (15-12), Dickson County (8-4) and Stewarts Creek again, 14-2.
“What a game. We fought in that game really hard. There were a lot of ups and downs and I think it just goes back to the girls' belief and love for each other. We just found a way to win and I am so totally proud of them,” said Walker Valley head coach Lauren Limburg. “We've got one more. We're going to get a little rest tonight and come back tomorrow ready to go.”
Senior righty Ryann Presswood earned the win for the Lady Mustangs with a complete game performance. The hot hitting Patriots pounded out 11 hits in a losing effort while walking twice and striking out nine times.
The Feisty Fillies looked to make it a quick afternoon racing to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
With one out and two runners on base, Alyssa Davenport took advantage of a stiff breeze blowing from right to left and fired a shot that cleared the left-center field fence scoring Amy Benson and Vanessa Byers.
Minutes later, Madison Thomas followed suit with a deep shot to center bringing in Morgan Rice.
The Patriots showed they were not going away easily as Anna Johnson made it 5-1 with a dinger to left-center.
The Lady Mustangs got the run back plus one in the second when Davenport stepped to the plate and launched round tripper No. 2, a two RBI liner that cleared the barrier in left-center upping the Walker Valley lead to 7-1.
“She works all the time. She works on her own all the time. For her to step up in what is so far the biggest game of our season and get those home runs was huge. She's been killing the ball all year. I knew it was going to go for her and I am so proud of her.,” praised Limburg. “She's been such a leader for our team. The younger girls see how hard she works and they mimic that. Her legacy will be fel for years to come.”
Page, however, was not ready to call it a season. A lead-off walk led to a run that cut the advantage to 7-2. The Patriots heated up again to put pressure on the Lady 'Stangs with a three run bottom of the third closing the gap to 7-5.
Karly Blackwell led off the Walker Valley top of the fourth with a walk and later trotted home on a bases loaded walk to make it 8-5.
The Patriots rallied right back with a home run down the line to right off the bat of Riley Vaughn closing the gap to 8-6.
Davenport kept the Walker Valley sixth alive with a two out walk then stole second and gave the Fillies a 9-6 lead scoring on an RBI single off the bat of Morgan Rice. The Lady Mustangs put one more huge insurance run on the board in the upper half of the seventh when Rice reached on an error and scored three batters later on a Blackwell RBI double to left-center.
The Lady Patriots again showed their determination in the bottom of the seventh beginning with a lead-off round tripper by Johnson followed by back-to-back doubles that scored another run closing the Walker Valley advantage to 10-8.
From there, Presswood got the second out with a strikeout followed by a ground ball back to the circle for the final out of the game.
“They (Lady Patriots) were determined. They have a great record. They've been winning games all year. They are not used to losing. They've got some great hitters and they just kept fighting back. I applaud them for that,” said Limburg. “But, our girls, we were never going to die. Were never going to go down. They just believed the whole time and they did it. I know they're tired and I'm just incredibly proud of them.”
The Lady Mustangs were also forced to adjust their approach at the plate following an early pitching chance by Page that saw a slowed pace that kept the off balance.
“We had to adjust, plus the pressure of everything, being in the moment. We were able to adjust, but yes, them changing pitchers threw off our timing a little bit,” Limburg explained. “But, I'm proud we got those insurance runs there at the end. That was huge going into the last inning knowing we had a little breathing room.”
Walker Valley 520 101 1 — 10 12 0
Page 113 100 2 — 8 11 2
WP: Ryann Presswood LP: Ashley Johnson HR: Alyssa Davenport 2, Madison Thomas (WV); Anna Johnson 2, Riley Vaughn (P); 2B: Karly Blackwell (WV); Jacie Linden, Avery Skiles, Johnson (P). HIGHLIGHTS: Blackwell 3-5 RS, Amy Benson RS, Vanessa Byers 2RS, Davenport 2-2 3RS 5RBI, Morgan Rice 3-4 RBI, Presswood RBI, Madison Thomas 2-4 2RS 2RBI, Anzleigh Battle RS (WV); Adriana Callahan 2-4 2RS RBI, Anna Johnson 2-3 3RS 2RBI, Johnson 2RS RBI; Linden 2-2 RS RBI, Izzy Melton 2RBI, Avery Skiles RBI (P).