Silverdale taking nothing for granted in region play

Silverdale Baptist Academy players celebrate a home run in Thursday's district championship game against Arts & Sciences at Warner Park.

It seems as though it was just a formality that Silverdale Baptist Academy would win the District 5-A high school softball championship. The Lady Seahawks routinely defeated their league opponents this season by double-digit margins, until Arts & Sciences played them within 10-3 in the district-tournament final Thursday at Warner Park.

But that part of their season is over. They could face CSAS again, should the two win Monday when region play is scheduled to begin for TSSAA Division I softball teams throughout the state.

Silverdale will host Marion County in a Region 3 semifinal at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Patriots play at District 6 champion Whitwell at 5 EDT.

Monday's winners move to region finals scheduled Wednesday. Region champions will play at home in Friday's scheduled state sectionals, from where winners advance to the state tournament.

Silverdale was state runner-up last season under Tim Couch, who afterward resigned as coach but remains SBA's high school athletic director. Glen Woodard, who was head coach at LaFayette, was familiar with Silverdale because the Woodards had considered entering their son, third-grader Kinsey, there. Woodard applied for the job opening and was hired in December.

The Lady Seahawks started out 0-2 under Woodard, both one-run losses. The first was 2-1 in nine innings to Central and standout pitcher and Tennessee Tech signee Brooke Parrott.

"I think the girls started believing in each other," said Woodard, recalling speaking to the team after losing to Class AAA Hardin Valley in Meigs County's tournament in Athens. "I didn't get mad at them. I said, 'Girls, let's just get refocused on what we need to do. Not one person is going to win us a game. Not one person is going to lose us a game.'"

Silverdale has won 19 consecutive since, including multiple games against CSAS and Whitwell.

"We played Marion in their playday before the season," Woodard said of the Lady Warriors, who finished third in the state last season but graduated several starters. "We played Whitwell twice and played CSAS four times. It's not like we haven't seen any of these three teams. We're going to show up and play Monday. That game you have to win or you're out."

Last year Silverdale had pitchers with records of 15-1, 14-2 and 13-2, but Taylor Moran is now starring at Lee University and junior Shelby Duggard is no longer able to play because of a heart condition. The lone returner is Austin Peay signee Emily Harkleroad, who has a 14-2 pitching record this year in 91 2/3 innings with 131 strikeouts to six walks.

"We have to be extremely focused," Harkleroad said of moving forward. "We can't take anything for granted. Upsetting teams could happen. We saw it in another district. You can't overlook anybody. You never know what could happen."

The Lady Seahawks' offense also has a different look from the 2016 team that hit 41 home runs.

"I'd love to have coached that team, too," Woodard said.

This year's team has gotten 11 homers from Tennessee commitment Kaili Crawley and four from fellow junior Jordan Cooper, and eighth-grader Skylar Sheridan hit her first in the district-title game.

"This team can produce just as much as last year's, but one through nine has to hit," said Harkleroad, who is a catalyst at the top of the order with a better than .500 batting average and a team-high nine triples. "We can't really rely on the top five or six like we did last year."

Also, Harkleroad's 12 is tops among the team's 50 steals.

"When I put together a lineup, all the girls believe they're going to get a hit," Woodard said. "There's not an easy out in our lineup. It's always nice to see a home run go over the fence, but we kind of have to manufacture our runs. We like being aggressive on the bases. We'll put some people in motion. We do have some speed, and we're not afraid to send them."

Crawley is a transfer from Central who had to sit out all of last season until the state tournament. She has played catcher, shortstop, third base and first and is a lifelong friend of Harkleroad's.

"Me and Emily have played ball together since we were little," Crawley said. "We have a connection like nobody else. It's a remarkable friendship. I think these have been special moments for both of us.

"It's been great, playing and growing with all these girls, and with new coaches. It's been a good experience."

Cleveland State signee Skylar Parton is another offensive weapon sandwiched in the lineup between Harkleroad and Crawley. Other key players include sophomore Savannah Turner and junior Kayleigh Page, and Lexi Vogel, who made the defensive play of the game at shortstop in the district final, heads the freshman group.

"I think with everybody working together and doing our jobs, we can make it back to state," Harkleroad said. "Then we'll see what happens there."

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.