CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Soddy-Daisy’s Kelsey Nunley pitched a one-hitter — or a two-hitter, depending on the point of view.
Nunley allowed one hit but hit two batters. She also struck out 13 as the Lady Trojans defeated host Walker Valley 10-0 in six innings in Monday’s winners-bracket final in the District 5-AAA high school softball tournament.
The victory secures Soddy-Daisy (44-2) a spot in Thursday’s final at 5 p.m. The Lady Trojans also clinched a berth in next week’s Region 3 tournament.
“One of our goals at the beginning of the season was to get into the region,” Soddy-Daisy coach Clifford Kirk said. “Of course we’ve got more goals after that.”
Nunley hit leadoff batter Courtney Gobble in the elbow and No. 3 batter Allie Morrow in the ankle in the first inning. Morrow was unable to continue playing. Shortstop Gobble had to be replaced after making a fielding play in the bottom of the second.
Walker Valley (28-14-1) was already playing without Sydney Hooper, who is the designated player when not pitching. She’s having back problems.
“I’ve got one over there on crutches now, and Gobble couldn’t feel her fingers,” Walker Valley coach Chris Doan said. “I’ve lost my whole middle infield, two of my best bats and my best baserunner.”
The Lady Mustangs will play tonight at 7 against the winner of today’s 5 p.m. game between McMinn County and Ooltewah.
“Ooltewah’s going to be out for blood,” Doan said. “We’ve beaten them three out of the last four and ended their season last year. I’m sure they’d love nothing more than to end ours. McMinn’s on a good run. They’re hitting the ball well right now.”
Nunley had eight consecutive strikeouts in one stretch. She walked one.
“With a wet ball, she did a real good job,” Kirk said. “Last time out she had 17 strikeouts, so that’s 30 the last two games. She hasn’t been pitching much lately. We’ve been resting her. From here on out, she’s going to have the ball in her hand a lot.”
Soddy-Daisy’s Brooke Ward walked leading off the bottom of the first inning, and Alex Everett walked one out later. Kali Henderson reached on an error, loading the bases.
Brandi Lasley and Andie Johnson then sandwiched RBI singles around Mariam Wood’s two-run double. Lasley’s two-out single in the second made it 5-0.
The Lady Trojans had seven of their 16 hits in the fifth inning, although they had one runner thrown out at the plate and another thrown out at third. Three runs scored on one swing in the fifth when pinch-hitter Emily Bice lined the first pitch she saw into the left-field corner for a double.
Lasley went 4-for-4 and Wood was 3-for-4 with the RBI single that ended the game. Everett and Ward each was 2-for-3 each, Ward with a double.