MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — They did if for themselves. They did it for their coach. And they did it for all those that toiled in a Lady Owls softball uniform the last 16 years.
Ooltewah validated its No. 18 national ranking in two high school polls by capping off its season with a 6-1 victory over Beech in the Class AAA state final.
Catcher Kaitlin Neil had gone 0-for-the-tournament before delivering an RBI single in the fifth inning that broke a tie, brought in another run when the hit was misplayed and started the Lady Owls toward a five-run rally.
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Staff Photo by Dan Henry-- Ooltewah’s softball team reacts to the Lady Owls’ 6-1 win over Beech in the 2008 TSSAA softball Class AAA championship game Friday night in Murfreesboro. Another Chattanooga-area team, GPS, repeated as champion in its Division II classification.
“Mainly we wanted it for ourseleves,” Neil said. “We knew Coach (Norma) Nelson would be proud of us, too. I saw there were a bunch of former players here tonight. I know they’re happy and wanted to see us win it, too.”
Nelson was an assistant coach to Jim Lovell when Ooltewah won titles in 1990 and ’92. She no longer has her rings because of a house fire in August.
“I know this feeling,” Nelson said. “It’s been a while. The thing is my rings burned up in the fire. Now I can get me a new one.”
Winning pitcher Holly Thomas did not allow an earned run in four tournament games. She pitched a four-hitter with three walks and seven strikeouts.
“Every year has been such a joy at Ooltewah,” Thomas said. “We all get along so well. We have outstanding team chemistry. Sometimes that can mean more than talent on the field.”
Ooltewah’s Jessica Chernak doubled to left-center with one out in the first inning and scored the first run when Thomas grounded a hard single into right field and the hit was bobbled.
Junior leadoff batter Kristin Whitmire went 2-for-4 and scored the tiebreaking run for Ooltewah (46-3-1).
In addition to the battery of Thomas and Neil, Ooltewah’s other seniors are Tabitha Farrow, Linley Gannon, Morgan Shelton and Lexie Whittenburg.
“It topped everything,” Thomas said. “It was a big way for us five seniors to go out.
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State championsThe Ooltewah Lady Owls won the 2008 TSSAA Class AAA softball state final vs. Beech on Friday in Murfreesboro.
Kelley Smiddie is a sports writer who has worked at the Times Free Press for 12 years. He covers high school sports and softball. Kelley’s hometown is Chattanooga, and he graduated from Brainerd High School and graduated Chattanooga State and UTC. Contact Kelley at 423-757-6653 or ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com.
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