Here in the final week of the TSSAA Division I softball season, Walker Valley and Ooltewah had chances to secure the outright regular-season championship in District 5-AAA. Walker Valley had a chance Tuesday but lost at East Hamilton. The Lady Owls had a chance Wednesday but lost at Soddy-Daisy.
Walker Valley was given a second opportunity to clinch against that same Soddy-Daisy team, which had a 4-3 district record after losing to the Lady Mustangs the first time they met. But the Lady Trojans have won five consecutive district games after a 7-1 home victory Thursday, creating a three-way tie atop the league standings.
That outcome, though, leaves the Lady Trojans as the top-seeded team for the district tournament, which starts today. Soddy-Daisy (27-7, 9-3) gets a bye until Saturday at 11 a.m., when play moves to Bradley Central. It will take on the winner between fifth-seeded McMinn County and host and fourth-seeded East Hamilton today at 5:30 p.m.
"You want to put yourself in the best position you can for the district tournament," Soddy-Daisy coach Wes Skiles said of earning the No. 1 seeding. "People kept asking me how was I going to approach these last two games. I told them, 'Like every other game.' I didn't even tell the players that if we won this we would be the one seed. I didn't want to put any undue pressure on them. I just wanted everybody to go out and play the game."
Third-seeded Walker Valley (21-7, 9-3) will host Bradley today at 5:30. Seventh-seeded Cleveland plays at second-seeded Ooltewah (9-3 5-AAA) at 6.
"I think the girls want to win. Their heart is in it," Walker Valley coach Lauren Limburg said. "We just have to be better, more focused, step up to the challenge against a very good ballteam.
"Our goal all year has been to win the district. Every team in our district is a good ball team. Whatever seed we have, we have to play our best."
The Lady Trojans established their offense early, getting three hits and two runs in each of the first two innings. Still with the score 4-0, the game's turning point appeared to come in the top of the fourth.
The Lady Mustangs loaded the bases with two walks sandwiched around an error. Then with one out, Soddy-Daisy right fielder Lauren Thomas made a running catch of a sinking line drive that she turned into an inning-ending double play.
"Yesterday and today, our outfield has just played awesome," Skiles said. "L.T.'s play was huge today. You can 'what-ifs' it all you want. But definitely that made a swing in momentum for sure."
Macy Bryant paced Soddy-Daisy, which added single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, with a 3-for-4 performance that included two RBIs and a run scored. Thomas was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
Alex Trimiar, Meg Beasley and Brooke Hale each went 2-for-4 for the Lady Trojans and combined to drive in three runs and score four. Beasley's hits were doubles.
Winning pitcher Shonna Penney had a no-hitter until A.J. Chancey drove in Walker Valley's run with a double to left-center with two out in the sixth. Hallie Davis, who was pitched around all game and drew three of Penney's five walks, scored the run. Penney ended up with a two-hitter with nine strikeouts.
"I think we need to be better all the way around," Limburg said. "Our hitters need to be better. Our defense needs to make the plays we're supposed to make. I think all phases have to improve if we're going to reach our goal."
Contact Kelley Smiddie at sports@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.