After 5th straight 4-4A tourney title, FHS softball earns Sectional
But against the Lady Bobcats in a win-or-go-home game at FHS’s Bellamy Field, the Lady Ads could plate only four.
However, because of starting pitcher Emma MacTavish, FHS would have been OK with scoring but once.
The senior hurler threw a complete-game shutout, giving up only two hits — both infield singles — while striking out eight in a 4-0 Farragut win.
The Lady Admirals (26-10) next go on the road to play District 3-4A Tournament champ Halls Wednesday, May 15.
“She (MacTavish) did a great job tonight,” FHS head coach Nick Green said. “Tight zone, worked around a lot of things, pitched great. Good defensive work out here tonight.”
“As a pitcher, I cannot thank my defense enough,” MacTavish said. “When my defense is making plays for me, I’m confident in my pitches.”
MacTavish walked two and was never in serious trouble.
The Lady Admirals scored twice in the second to lead 2-0. Laney Shrader’s double off the wall scored pinch runner Taylor Albright. Shrader made it to third on the play.
Rilee Kate Ragan’s grounder then brought in Shrader.
Slugger Elsa Morrison made it 3-0 in the third with a homerun bomb to center field on an 0-1 count.
The Lady Admirals added an insurance run in the sixth when Rylee Raby reached on a fielder’s choice, went to second on a walk to Ragan, then scored on an errant throw to second that went into the outfield on a pickoff attempt.
Depending on the outcome against Halls, the Lady Admirals will face either Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett or Morristown West — either home as region champ or on the road as 2-4A runner-up — in the Sectionals Friday, May 17. That winner goes to the state tournament, which begins Tuesday, May 21, in Murfreesboro.
“For us to be in the Sectionals, it feels like where we should be. ... It’s our expectation at this point,” MacTavish said.
