Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 5/24/16. Meigs County's Kaley Meadows (44) bats against Silverdale Baptist during the TSSAA Division I Class A Girls' Softball Tournament in Murfreesboro, TN., on May 24, 2016. MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - On their way to their initial Spring Fling Class A softball game, Marion County's Lady Warriors pulled in at a Zaxby's and wound up occupying more than a half-dozen tables.
As they prepared to leave, the girls, with no coaching or prompting, pooled their money and left a tip near $25 for the elderly lady who was busing tables.
One good turn deserves another. Marion County won its opener, 4-1 over Midway.
"It's so good to get that first one," coach Randy Ellis said. "I'm so proud of the girls for getting it, but I'm just as proud of them for what they did on the way up here. They're really a good group of young ladies."
Chances are good the Lady Warriors again may stop at Zaxby's today - they're commuting daily from Jasper - and it'll be more than the urging to "eat more chicken." They will play Huntingdon (36-8) at 6:30 EDT, moving from the McKnight fields to the adjacent Starplex (field 4).
Marion pitcher Taylor Roberts was on her game, allowing only six hits on her way to her 18th victory in 21 decisions this season.
"What a pitching performance - scattered six hits and just dug down. She never gave us a reason to get her off that mound. She was determined," Ellis said.
The Lady Warriors put two runs on the board in the first inning and another in the second. They added a demoralizing run in the top of the seventh.
"My hats are off to the girls," Ellis said. "It takes a lot to get out here and perform under this kind of pressure."
Chloe Campbell, who would finish 2-for-4, had the biggest hit of the day with her two-run single in the first. Leadoff hitter Breanna Vinson, the sophomore shortstop, reached via three bunt singles and scored a pair of runs, while Harlie Jordan also scored two and was 2-for-4.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.