Marion County’s Morgan Henderson slides home while Silverdale Baptist Academy catcher Regan Robertson waits for a throw in Jasper on Monday. Marion won by a score of 5-0.
Staff photo by John Rawlston/Chattanooga Times Free PressJASPER, Tenn. – While the players wanted to celebrate the win that had extended their season, Marion County softball coach Chris Thomas was more concerned with finding ways to ensure that Monday’s would not be the final win of the season.
“Way too many runners left on base today, girls,” Thomas said as the players huddled in the outfield following a 5-0 Region 3-A semifinal win over Silverdale Baptist Academy. “We can’t do that and expect to get to where we want to be by the end of the week.”
Despite stranding at least one runner on base every inning, and a total of 12, the Lady Warriors seemed in control throughout Monday’s game and will host District 5 champion Grace Academy in Wednesday’s region title game at 6 EDT. The winner of that game will host a state sectional Friday, while the loser must travel.
After leaving the bases loaded in the first, Marion County (33-7) got a run in the second inning on an error. Heather Richards made that slim lead hold up until Kelsey Thomas’ sacrifice bunt plated a second run in the fifth.
“I’m always a little nervous when we’re struggling to score, and I know I have to shut out the other team,” said Richards, who threw a two-hitter. “I always try to pitch like the score is 0-0 regardless, and I really felt like somebody would come through and get us going. It was just a matter of time. Once we finally got one more run, that really took some pressure off me and when we scored a few more, I felt really confident.”