Farragut softball season ends in region semis at Powell
POWELL — Looking to rebound from a disappointing District 4-AAA Tournament title game loss to William Blount last week, Farragut softball faced elimination on the road against defending Class AAA state runner-up Powell Monday night, May 14.
Despite a two-run homer from FHS senior Kelsie Tuggle in the first inning, and a solid pitching performance from junior ace Lakyn Moore, the Lady Admirals’ season came to an end with a 26-9 overall record.
A walkoff single in the eighth inning, with two outs, gave the Lady Panthers a 3-2 Region 2-AAA semifinal win.
Though Powell All-state pitching ace Allison Carr picked up the win, “Lakyn matched her pitch-for-pitch,” FHS head coach David Moore said. “She pitched a great ball-game.”
Finishing with 10 strikeouts while allowing seven hits in 7 2/3 innings, Lakyn did work out of a bases-loaded-one-out jam in the bottom of the seventh.
Overall, “I’m proud of them and proud of the way they played,” coach Moore said.
“Our seniors came through tonight,” he added. “Andrea (Sarhatt, District 4-AAA Player of the Year), had two hits ... and as our leadoff hitter she reached base in all 35 games — I’ve never had a player do that before.
“Kelsie hit the two-run homer, and Bailey Young — who has been hurt most of the season — had a big hit and gave us a potential chance to rally.
“We’re going to miss those three.”
William Blount 5 FHS 0
The Lady Admirals managed just three hits in a 5-0 loss to second-seeded William Blount in the title game of the 4-AAA tournament Wednesday, May 9, at FHS’s Bellamy Field.
Lady Governors pitching ace Kelsey Darnell nearly was untouchable in a huge setting.
“I didn’t think we were as aggressive at the plate as we had been in previous games,” coach Moore said. “I thought we were passive at the plate.”
For four innings, Lady Ads’ freshman Cameron Young was locked in a pitchers’ duel with Darnell, as both teams saw their offenses come up empty.
Farragut right fielder Joely Gruhn made a sparking defensive play to open the game, robbing William Blount leadoff hitter Kas Dunn of an extra-base hit in the top of the first inning.
The Lady Admirals got a base runner in the bottom of the inning, as Tuggle drew a two-out walk. But she was caught stealing to end the frame.
Young led off the bottom of the second with a bunt single for Farragut, but she was stranded at first when Katie Tuggle, Bailey Myers and Anna Lynn all flew out, enabling Darnell, who has already joined the U.S. Army and will deploy June 25, to escape unscathed.
William Blount, which improved to 30-6 with the victory, would score the game’s first run in the top of the fourth.
The Lady Governors would extend their advantage to 4-0 in the top of the fifth as they plated three runs in the frame.
“This team has a lot of heart,” William Blount head coach Amanda Leatherwood said. “They have more heart than any team that I’ve ever coached.”
For Farragut, Myers had a single in the fifth.
Sarhatt, who had a hit in the sixth, was the only Lady Admiral to reach second base.
“I think everyone has games like this,” Sarhatt said.
