MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It took 24 years for the Lady Mustangs to reach the championship game of the state tournament, but less than three hours to finally bring the first-ever softball championship back to Walker Valley.
The Lady Mustangs have come close in past years reaching finishing as runners-up in 2018 and ending in the top four in 2024. The Feisty Fillies finally pushed across the finish line with a 10-8 come-from-behind win over Green Hill at the Middle Tennessee Softball Complex Friday afternoon.
“It feels awesome. I just couldn't be prouder of this group of girls. They've done everything I've asked them to do all year. They believed ad they fought and they loved and they made it happen,” said a happy head coach Lauren Limburg.
The two run victory was identical to Thursday's second win over Page in the semifinal matchup. The Lady Mustangs (35-8) fought to the title game with an 8-1 win over Page to open the tournament then followed up besting Rossview, 6-3.
The Lady Herd join the 2005 bowling team as the only team state champions in Walker Valley history.
It proved to be no easy task for the Fillies, who jumped to a 4-1 lead. The Hawks (35-4-2) battled back to take a two run lead in the sixth inning before Walker Valley fought back to knot the score in the seventh then scored three in the eighth and held on for the win.
It was again senior Ryann Presswood who got the win for the Valley girls going the full eight frames facing 39 batters. The Lady Hawks were hot at the plate notching 16 hits on the day, four more than the 'Stangs, who banged out an even dozen safeties.
“She's a gamer. She wants the ball,” said Limburg of her senior ace. “She welcomes competition, she doesn't shy away from it. She believes in herself and she believes in her teammates. She believes that wherever they hit it our defense is going to make a play. And they did today.”
Walker Valley's Karly Blackwell put the first run on the board after a lead-off walk. She raced home on an Amy Benson bunt single. A Green Hill error on an Alyssa Dvnport bunt allowed Benson to cross the plate to put the Mustangs up 2-0. Vanessa Byers, who reached on a base on balls, made it 3-0 on a ground out. Presswood capped the rally with an RBI single to center field that scored Davenport.
The Hawks recouped one run in the bottom of the inning on a single and double. Green Hill picked up another run in the fourth to make it a 5-2 game.
The Lady Mustangs added a score in the top half of the fifth as Blackwell singled and scored on a Byers hit to right.
The Hawks fired back with a pair of tallies in the lower half of the inning thanks to single and an Avary Stockwell two run home run. Green Hill followed up in the sixth with three runs with a triple and a pair of singles to lead 7-5.
As they have done more than a few times over the season, the Lady Mustangs reached deep inside to send the game to extra innings.
Autumn Lanclos opened the seventh with a single and moved up when Brylie Davis doubled down the right-field line. Byers then stepped into the box and promptly delivered a scorcher to center that scored pinch runner Anzleigh Battle and Davis tying the score at 7-7.
After holding the Hawks scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Mustangs' Presswood took one for the team for the first base runner of the inning. She was replaced on the pads by Addyson Trew. She hustled home on a fielder's choice off the aluminum of Davis. Blackwell kept the inning alive with an RBI single to left scoring Madison Thomas, who earlier singled to center. Byers helped out with an RBI single that saw Davis come home with run No. 10 for the Lady Mustangs.
The Hawks stayed alive with a double and single before centerfielder Blackwell tracked down a long fly ball to for the final out of the game giving the state title to the Lady Mustangs.
“It just shows their resilience, their fight and their love. They wanted it for each other. When you play for something bigger than yourself it means more.,” Limburg mused as the celebration continued. “I told them if they just love and fight and play for each other the win would take care of itself and it did.”
Walker Valley 400 010 23 — 10 12 0
Green Hill 100 123 01 — 8 16 1
WP: Ryann Presswood LP: Savannah Wilson HR: Avary Stockwell (GH) 3B: Reagan Walter (GH) 2B: Stockwell (GH); Brylie Davis (WV) HIGHLIGHTS: Karly Blackwell 2-4 2RS RBI, Amy Benson 3-3 RS RBI, Nessa Byers 3-4 RS 4RBI, Alyssa Davenport RS, Morgan Rice RBI, Presswood RBI, Madison Thomas RS, Anzleigh Battle RS, Brylie Davis 2RS RBI, Addyson Trew RS (WV). Walter 3-5 3RS 2RBI, Kendall Davis RBI, Stockwell 2-4 RS 3RBI, Chezney Whipker 3-5 RS RBI, Kellyn Burns RBI, Taylor Watson 2-3, Alyx Frost 2-4 2RS. RECORDS: Green Hill 35-4-2; Walker Valley 35-8 — state champions.
(Contact Richard Roberts at richardvol55@yahoo.com)