CHARLESTON, Tenn. — Walker Valley gave it's four departing seniors a proper sendoff Wednesday at Larry Haney Field with a five inning win over the Lady Wildcats of Hixson.
Lady Mustangs seniors Brylie Davis, Haley Davis, Autumn Lanclos and Madison Thomas were honored after the contest with a ceremony celebrating their achievements over the course of their careers at Walker Valley.
Haley Davis celebrated with a three hit shutout out of the circle in the 9-0 victory striking out eight batters while walking none. Freshman Abby Lipps added to the festivities with a two run home run.
A pregame decision between coaches was made to call the game if either team had an eight run or more lead after five innings.
“I'm just really proud of our girls and their growth over the year. Those four seniors, they mean so much to our program, to me personally and to the girls. I just appreciate all they've done for our team and the legacy they have left,” said head coach Lauren Limburg. “We are definitely going to miss them next year, but we're excited to get to compete in the postseason with them. I'm just really proud of them and I'm really thankful for them and their families and what they mean to our program.”
The Lady Mustangs (26-7-1) will take the weekend to celebrate prom night before returning to Larry Haney Field Monday for one final regular season game against Chattanooga Christian ahead of the District 5-4A tournament which begins Thursday at Cleveland High School.
By virtue of the No. 2-seed in the district, the Lady Mustangs receive a first round by and will host a second round game May 1 against either Ooltewah or Howard before returning to Cleveland to finish out the tournament.
Nessa Byers got the Feisty Fillies off to a good start with a lead-off triple to the fence in left field and made it 1-0 on a fielder's choice. Anzliegh Battle followed with a two out single and scored on a Lipps double. Brylie Davis upped the lead to 3-0 with an RBI single to left.
Hixson's Mady Goodner led off the top of the second with a double, but the two bagger went for naught as Davis sat down three Wildcats in a row with Ks.
Autimn Lanclos reached on an error in the bottom half of the inning, made it to third on a Battle sacrifice fly and raced home on a two RBI single off the bat of Morgan Rice in front of Sway Capron, who reached base on a walk.
The Lady Mustangs put the game on ice in the lower half of the fifth as Battle opened with a double to center. She trotted home when Lipps lifted a Hixson offering well over the center-field fence to make it 7-0. Brylie Davis stepped in the box and ripped a double to left-center and upped the lead to 8-0 on a Lanclos single. Lanclos brought the day to a close hustling home on a Hixson throw to make it a 9-0 final.
“We have prom this weekend, so we will take Friday off and let the girls enjoy prom Saturday. Then we have a game Monday against Chattanooga Christian and start the district tournament Thursday,” Limburg explained. “Because of our seed we get a bye Thursday then we'll host here Friday. The remainder of the tournament will be at Cleveland.”
Hixson 000 00 — 0 3 2
Walker Valley 320 04 — 9 10 0
WP: Haley Davis LP: Janiyah Moon HR: Abby Lipps (WV), 3B: Nessa Byers (WV), 2B: Mady Goodner (H); Anzleigh Battle, Lipps (WV). HIGHLIGHTS: Gracie Quarles 1-2, Goodner 1-2, (H); Byers RS, Madison Thomas 1-2 RBI, Morgan Rice 2 RBI, Battle 2-3 2RS, Lipps 2-3 2RS 3RBI, Brylie Davis 2-3 RS RBI, Cam Cartwright RS, Autumn Lanclos RS RBI, Sway Capron RS (WV). RECORDS; Hixson 5-22; Walker Valley 26-7-1.