Sale Creek adjusts to win district title
Not much was going Sale Creek’s way through the first four innings of Wednesday’s District 4-A high school softball final at Lookout Valley. But after that, everything went the Lady Panthers’ way.
They rallied with a three-run fifth inning, and a matching sixth put a cap on a 6-1 victory over Tellico Plains.
Both teams will advance to the Region 2 tournament scheduled to start Monday, although neither Sale Creek (30-5) nor Tellico Plains will know its opponent until the District 3 championship is settled tonight at Wartburg. Sale Creek, which will play at home, has announced that it will play at 7 p.m.
The Lady Panthers’ comeback began with them loading the bases after one was out. Back to the top of the order, Hannah Hall then pulled a grounder through the right side for the tying single. Leah Campbell then dropped a single into right-center field, allowing two more runs to score.
“The bottom of our lineup really came through in some key spots,” said Eric Sullivan, who has combined with fellow assistant coach Kendra Mooneyham to guide the team since head coach Clifford Kirk broke a hip in a freak accident on the field during Meigs County’s Lady Tiger Classic at Athens Regional Park in March.
“This is a scrappy little bunch,” Kirk said. “When we hit, we can play with anybody. They don’t give up.”
Trinity Liner’s double over the left-fielder’s head got the sixth started, prompting a pitching change for the Lady Bears. Campbell completed the uprising with a run-scoring single to right that was just out of reach of the second baseman.
Winning pitcher Madison Stott did not give up a run through the last six innings. She ended up with a five-hitter.
Kirk was in attendance, as he was at Monday’s winners-bracket final. In his wheelchair, he was front and center in the team picture after the game with the championship plaque.
“We had to do something to score some runs,” Kirk said of the midgame dilemma. “We had to adjust a few things. That’s a good team over there.”
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.