Catcher Gabbie Hensley hugs head coach Jackie Freelend after turning things around with her single and the bases loaded.
photo by Joy Fisk
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- The Seahawks took an early lead 2-0 against Donelson Christian Academy in the top of the third inning in the first state championship game on Thursday but Donelson responded in the bottom of the fourth inning with three runs of their own. Had Donelson won the game, the championship would be theirs, but the double elimination tournament gives Silverdale one last shot at the championship. At the top of the seventh inning, Silverdale scored four runs to win the game, forcing a third and final game at the MTSU Softball Stadium.
With two outs in the seventh inning, it was do or die time for the Seahawks. Donelson had three points to their two but the bases were loaded and catcher Gabbie Hensely was up to bat. Gabbie singled on a hard ground ball that allowed two Seahawks to cross home plate, and then pitcher Bita Cox doubled on a fly ball allowing two more Seahawks to score. A stunned Donelson that was getting ready to rush the field found themselves unable to make up the runs they needed in the bottom of the seventh inning against Bita Cox’s expert pitching and the Seahawks steady defense
Silverdale played three games yesterday and the first one was ugly. Donelson won that game easily 10-0, but if they thought the Seahawks would go down easily, they were wrong. This team has proven over and over again that they can come back from almost any deficit with the grit and determination that have made them state champions back-to-back the past two years.
This year they have had to fight hard for every win, and it looked like they might be down for the count yesterday in their third game of the day, having lost the first and won the second 8 to zero, but once again, in the top of the sixth inning, the Seahawks scored four points to win 6-4.
Silverdale’s pitcher Bita Cox has got to be tired after pitching three games yesterday and one this morning, getting ready to play her fifth critical game in two days, this one for the state title. Win or lose in the last game slated to begin at 3:00 Central time, Silverdale has performed well in Murfreesboro and the team has never given up, a trait their opponents would do well to remember.
Silverdale’s Athletic Director Mike Connor said after the game, “Incredible effort by our girls. They hung in there and played until the very last out. The bottom of the line-up came through and when they come through, the top of the line off finish it up for them, just like they did yesterday. Really proud of them.”