Going 4-1 at Wildcat Classic, Lady Ads softball 13-3-1
HIXSON — Winning four of five games after reaching the Wildcat Classic Gold Division semifinals at Hixson High School in Chattanooga over the weekend, coach Nick Green’s girls began the week with a 13-3-1 overall mark.
A 5-2 loss to Gibbs Saturday, March 22, was the lone Farragut setback.
“As it’s worked out, we’ve got a lot of kids involved,” Green said about his team, which has just six upperclassmen. “We were highly competitive in competing for playing time and things like that. And I think that's helped us out. We have a deeper roster this year than we did last year.”
In addition to the star power of All-state senior shortstop Elsa Morrison, a Tennessee Lady Vols signee, “our catching group is pretty strong … both of them have been splitting time,” Green said about sophomore Rylee Baby, who started as a freshman last season, and sophomore Callie Brown.
Wildcat Classic
Beating Girls Preparatory School 6-0 to open play Friday, March 21, Raby had three singles and an RBI, while Morrison also was three-of-three at the plate with a double and an RBI.
Sophomore pitcher Hallie Grace Johnson pitched the shutout.
Blanking Franklin County 11-0 Friday, winning pitcher was senior Ava Barnes, while freshman Taylor Wolfgram, “a freshman who's been contributing in the circle for us” according to Green, picked up the save.
Freshman Logan Jameson, starting center fielder who’s “pretty much anchored down the center field spot for us this year,” had two hits. Sophomore Eleena Ralston belted three hits, including a double, with an RBI and two runs scored.
Camryn Shrader, a freshman, went two-for-two at the plate with a double and two RBI.
Saturday morning found the Lady Ads blanking Bradley Central 8-0 behind the shutout pitching of sophomore Hudson Bradford.
Jameson scored three runs to go with one hit. Alexa Shrader, junior third baseman, smacked a two-run homer.
Beginning Gold Bracket single-elimination play later Saturday, Farragut rallied to edge DeKalb County 7-5. “We were down 5-1 at one point,” Green said.
Barnes pitched in relief “and gave us two solid innings of work, and then Hallie Grace Johnson came in, gave us two solid innings of work and picked up the win there,” Green said.
Offensively, Raby was two-for-three at the plate, while senior outfielder Amelia Dorset was two-for-two offensively with an RBI and a run scored.
Johnson went the distance against Gibbs. “She had a decent outing, but we just didn't generate a lot of offense against Gibbs,” Green said.
Barnes connected for two hits and one RBI, while Morrison added a hit, RBI and a run scored.
