TEAMS TO WATCHGrace Academy: The Lady Golden Eagles graduated one off last year’s team that finished second in the Class A state tournament, and Winter Simpson’s return from an ACL injury will provide pitching depth.Central: The Lady Purple Pounders not only have a top-flight pitcher, Shelby Willard, but senior Sara Walker and sophomores Hannah Powell and Brook Womack potentially could be the best hitters in District 6-AA.Soddy-Daisy: Although the Lady Trojans graduated a few from last year’s Class AAA state-title team, there’s plenty of young talent ready to step in. They don’t need it, but pitching help also is on the way.PLAYERS TO WATCHKelsey Nunley, Soddy-Daisy: Among her imposing statistics as a sophomore in 2010 were that 17 of her 29 pitching victories were shutouts and she walked 29 in 176 1/3 innings pitched.Lacye Walker, Grace Academy: The Lady Golden Eagles’ gang of one is as productive in the pitching circle as she is in the batter’s box. The senior left-hander can contribute in the outfield, too.Shelby Willard, Central: The right-hander showed plenty of stamina with her 24-8 pitching record and 0.77 ERA as a sophomore last season and often helped herself. She had 18 extra-base hits and 29 RBIs.
Grace Academy’s Lady Golden Eagles will consistently be battling two opponents throughout the upcoming high school softball season. The obvious one will be on the field. The other is in their heads.
Grace lost a 2-1 heartbreaker in 10 innings in the Class A state final last May in Murfreesboro. Second baseman Noel Bartley graduated, but the rest of the Lady Golden Eagles return.
That is reason for them to have confidence entering this season, but coach Tina Walker’s optimism is guarded. As much as she would love to be the first to guide a Grace Academy team to a state championship of any kind, she wants her players to be mindful that there’s a lot of work to do now and only a hope of playing in late May.
“We don’t want them looking too far ahead,” Walker said. “Then it will never happen.”