WHITWELL, Tenn. – As if Marion County’s three-year dominance over District 6-A softball competition wasn’t enough of an obstacle for the rest of the league, the Lady Warriors rolled to the tournament title Wednesday evening led by a pair of freshmen.
Apparently, there’s no end in sight after Marion’s convincing 10-2 victory over host Whitwell for its third straight 6-A crown.
“When you’re getting pinch-hit home runs from freshmen, you know you’re loaded,” said Whitwell coach Grace Pickett, whose team advanced to the title game earlier Wednesday with a 12-2 win over South Pittsburg. “One-through-nine, their lineup is about as tough as there is. There’s no drop off and really not much you can pitch around.”
Marion County will host the loser of the 5-A tournament between Silverdale Baptist and Grace Academy, while Whitwell will travel to the 5-A champion in the Region 3 tournament semifinals Monday.
Freshman pitcher Erica O’Kane scattered six hits and was in complete control to earn the win. Although she struck out just one, the Lady Warriors made no errors behind her and had seven runs before the Lady Tigers managed to score their first. O’Kane also got the offensive fireworks started for Marion with a three-run home run in the second. Freshman teammate Taylor Kennedy came in as a pinch hitter and clobbered a two-run homer later as Marion collected 12 total hits, including doubles by Brooke Baxter, Kelly Bruning, Hannah Morrison and Kelsey Thomas. All but Baxter also had RBIs.