Although there aren't many of them, Baylor's senior softball players have now qualified for the TSSAA Division II-AA state tournament each year of their careers after taking care of Pope John Paul II in a doubleheader Wednesday to win the best-of-three state quarterfinal series at Baylor.
The Lady Red Raiders won the first game 16-3 in five innings and won the second 10-0, also in five.
"We have a goal that we expect to be in Murfreesboro every year," Baylor coach Kelli Smith said. "It's nice to get that berth. Now we know that we'll be there and be one of four teams to play for a state championship."
Baylor (24-3) not only had 14 hits in the opener, nine of them went for extra bases. Both of No. 9 batter Makayla Packer's hits were home runs, and she drove in five runs.
"Makayla has been a great player for us," Smith said. "It's been great having her speed in front of Cheyenne (Lindsey) and Abby (McNamara) at the top of the order. And she leads us in home runs. She has fulfilled that role well, and when she sees a good pitch, she makes people pay."
Kamrie Rich was 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and two doubles. Macy Ann McKnight was 2-for-2 with an RBI double, a walk and three runs. Lindsey was 3-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs, two runs and a stolen base.
Winning pitcher Ace Sellers allowed six hits, walked one and had four strikeouts.
McKnight was the winning pitcher in the second game with a no-hitter. She walked one, hit one and struck out seven.
Brindley Garrison and McNamara each went 2-for-3. Garrison had a double and an RBI, and McNamara stole two bases and scored twice.
Ashton Bazzell was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. Rich was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
- GPS 15, Harpeth Hall 0: In the first game of a best-of-three series at GPS, Shelby Walters threw a perfect three-inning game with seven strikeouts.
"Shelby had an outstanding day," GPS coach Susan Crownover said. "She pretty much shut them down. It's good to get that win. We're happy to be playing tomorrow and to have a chance to get back to the state tournament."
No. 2 batter Elizabeth Warwick went 2-for-3 and hit a three-run double in her second at-bat as part of an 11-run first inning. She had two doubles, totaled four RBIs and scored three runs.
Haley Smith went 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and scored twice.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.