Chattanooga Christian didn't look so much like the young team that it is in the first four innings of Monday's Region 4-AA high school softball semifinal at CCS. But the back half of the game went a little differently.
Road-tested Macon County came back from trailing since the fourth inning and tied it in the seventh, then squeezed in what proved to be the winning run in the eighth and defeated the Lady Chargers 5-4.
Macon County (34-9-1) moves on to play in Wednesday's region final. CCS ends its season 18-8.
The Tigerettes trailed 3-0 after five innings, although the top of the fifth - when they got three singles and an error but didn't score because a runner got thrown out at third - is when things began to turn.
They got an RBI single from Makenzie Mercer and an RBI double from Allyson Shoulders in the sixth and a tying two-run double from Paige Clark in the seventh, and Meagan Frye's squeeze bunt drove in the game-winner in the eighth.
"The momentum went our way in the fifth inning," said Macon County coach John Conditt. "We've only played eight games at home. We want to play on the road. This is what we prepared for. They have a good ball team, but it shouldn't have to affect us going on the road."
Shelby Houts was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored for the Lady Chargers. Madison Blevins drove in runs with a single and a sacrifice bunt, and Rachel Kay had an RBI double.
Conditt was highly complimentary of CCS eighth-grade shortstop Madison Vandergriff, who had seven assists and an unassisted putout at second. The Lady Chargers started one junior. The rest were younger.
"Having those tears coming down at the end is what shows we expect to be here," CCS coach Lisa Gray said. "We want to put CCS back on the map. We're moving to Division II next year, so the road is just going to get even harder. But I think we'll work and prepare to make that step."
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.