Spain comes through as Walker Valley rallies to nip Bearettes 2-1

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — With a slight chill in the air and occasional wind gusts blowing toward home plate, Tuesday’s conditions at Bradley Central were ideal for a pitchers’ duel. Makayla Lawson and Lauren Whaley from Walker Valley and the Bearettes’ Leah Banks cooperated.

Ultimately the Lady Mustangs edged Bradley Central 2-1 in the District 5-AAA high school softball game.

Banks was cruising along with a one-hit shutout through five innings, and the Bearettes got her a run in the bottom of the fifth. Scoring opportunities were so scarce for Walker Valley (3-2, 1-0) that coach Chris Doan had Laurel Allen and Courtney Gobble both lay down bunts after Aryn Bain started the sixth with a single.

“Courtney almost beat hers out,” Doan said. “We were a half-step away from having runners on the corners.”

Bain was the only player on either side with two hits. With her at third and two out, Doan spoke briefly with No. 3 batter Sara Spain.

“I told her, ‘This is what we played for. We bunted so you could have the chance to tie it,’” Doan said. “She came through with a rip.”

Spain’s line-drive single into left-center was followed by a wild pitch. Whaley then singled her in.

Whaley then threw two hitless innings and saved the pitching victory for Lawson. She hit the first Bearette she faced, but a double play killed any threat. Whaley had pitched Monday when the Lady Mustangs defeated Polk County.

“Makayla’s stuff had quit working,” Doan said. “Whaley being a senior, she wanted to pitch against our in-town rival. We knew she meant business and was going to do her part to win it.”

For Bradley (2-1, 2-1) in the fifth, Whitney Brown doubled and eventually scored on Jackie Short’s fielder’s choice. Lawson allowed four hits and one walk while striking out six.

A catch in deep right-center by center fielder Lauren Ellis saved the Bearettes a run in the third inning because Bain singled afterward. Banks ended up with a five-hitter that included seven strikeouts and no walks.

“She did a good job pretty much, but she can’t do it all,” Bradley coach Christie McElhaney said. “We’ve got to back her up at the plate. We had our opportunities.”

One Bearette was thrown out trying to steal second in the third inning, and catcher Ashley Bryson pegged another the next inning. McElhaney said she did not signal for steal attempts.

“We had some baserunning issues,” McElhaney said. “We need to get a little stronger mentally. Then we’ll produce a few more runs.”