COALMONT, Tenn. — With her team clinging to a narrow lead, the tying runs on base and a batter who already had two home runs on deck, Lydia Ritchie did something unexpected for a freshman. She blocked out all the surrounding drama and recorded the third out.
It wasn’t the first time Ritchie had come up big for Bledsoe County’s softball team Tuesday night, leading the Lady Warriors to a 4-2 victory over Sequatchie County to claim the District 7-AA tournament championship.
Ritchie scattered four hits and struck out seven in the third and deciding game of the series, giving Bledsoe its first district title since 1982.
“She works hard all the time,” said Ricky Ritchie, Lydia’s father and a Lady Warriors coach. “She told me on the way to the field tonight that she wanted to take care of the seniors and do something special.”
Sequatchie County was the regular-season district champ and had beaten Bledsoe twice, including one game shortened by the 10-run rule. But Ritchie earned the upset win over the Lady Indians on Saturday and pitched well in a game-two 4-3 loss Tuesday afternoon before rallying for the win in the deciding game. She also went a combined 7-for-8 at the plate Tuesday.