Bob Jones coach Kent Chambers didn’t have long to address his team between games Friday in the Choo Choo Lady Owls Classic high school softball tournament, but he had the players’ attention long enough to make them aware of the challenge they were about to face.
The No. 3-ranked Class 6A team in Alabama then defeated nationally ranked Soddy-Daisy 2-0, giving the Lady Trojans their second loss in 34 games.
The tournament continues today beginning at 8:30 a.m. After pool play, teams will be placed in the Gold or Silver bracket for single-elimination. The Silver competition is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. and conclude with the final at 5:30. Play in the Gold bracket is scheduled to start at 1 and end with the championship game at 7.
Chambers was aware of Soddy-Daisy’s exploits this season and the recent past. He knew of the ranking, which is No. 25 in the ESPN Rise FAB 50 poll, and knew the Lady Trojans had one loss.
Abby Guest (15-5) was the winning pitcher for Bob Jones (36-10), from Madison in the Huntsville area. She allowed three hits and one walk in the six-inning game and had five strikeouts. Soddy-Daisy, which is averaging eight runs per game, also failed to score the other time it lost.
“Abby’s curveball and changeup were both on that game,” Chambers said. “She hit her spots and the defense made all the plays we asked of them.”
Emily Payne doubled in the fifth inning, was sacrificed to third, then beat the throw and tag at home on a fielder’s choice. Nicole Bobroski (13-5), the winning pitcher in a 2-1 victory over Grace Academy in the Patriots’ first game, homered to center with one out in the sixth.
Mississippi State signee Jessica Offutt was 3-for-4 with three stolen bases and a run scored against the Lady Golden Eagles, who had the tying run on third when the game ended.
“We’ve got to come back tomorrow and play Sequatchie County, another good team,” Chambers said. “We’ve got to turn it back on again in the morning. We know one game doesn’t make the tournament.”
GPS (18-4) and Walker Valley (17-10-1) were among others that went 2-0 Friday.
GPS’s Bruisers beat Hixson 14-1 in four innings and Powell 6-1 in six.
Jackie Baird was 4-for-5 with a home run, double, four RBIs and four runs scored in the Bruisers’ two games. Katy Richardson went 4-for-4 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored against Hixson. Corey Swaffort was the winning pitcher in the first game and Payton Leech was the winner in the second game.
“We hit the ball pretty well and played well on defense,” GPS coach Susan Crownover said. “Both pitchers did their jobs. We’re in good shape going into tommorrow.”
Walker Valley defeated East Ridge 7-0 in five innings and Maryville Heritage 7-3 in six.
Allie Morrow was 2-for-2 with two runs scored when Lauren Lawson was the winning pitcher in the first game. Leslie Still was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Sidney Hooper tripled, doubled, scored a run and was the winning pitcher against Heritage. Laurel Allen had a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth.
“We hit the ball,” Walker Valley coach Chris Doan said. “That helps. Two of those runs were unearned that last game. We’ve got to come ready to play tomorrow. We’ve had some time off, so our pitchers should be rested.”
Host Ooltewah played one game Friday and Taylor Baird pitched a five-inning no-hitter in a 9-0 victory over East Hamilton.
The sophomore right-hander struck out four, walked one and the Lady Owls made one error behind her. Thanks to a pickoff, she faced one over the minimum.
“She threw well,” Ooltewah coach Norma Nelson said. “Her curveball and screwball were working. Her dropball worked a little bit today. We tried to mix something else in besides in-and-out.”
Jessica Morgan sparked the offense with an inside-the-park home run, another hit and three RBIs.