MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The outcome wasn’t the one Grace Academy’s Lady Golden Eagles had hoped for. As coach Tina Walker put it, her team accomplished every goal it set this season except for one.
Trinity Christian edged Grace Academy 2-1 in 10 innings Saturday morning in a TSSAA Class A state softball final that was fitting of a championship game.
Because Trinity senior right-hander Ellen Renfroe and Grace junior left-hander Lacye Walker were locked in a pitchers’ duel through nine innings, the international tiebreaker went into effect the next inning. The bottom of the 10th began with the top of the order up and Lady Lions No. 9 batter Allie Carpenter on second base.
After a few pitches, coach Robert Craft had his baserunner on the move. Shortstop Kaitlin Eldridge tried to get to third base in time to take the throw, but it sailed past her and enabled Carpenter to score the winning run.
“I thought we had a pretty good chance of swiping third,” Craft said. “The overthrow was just a bonus. The defense they were set up in had them crushing the bunt, so I gave my batter the fake-bunt sign. It was a big chance I was taking, but it paid off.”
The 10th began with the Lady Golden Eagles’ Sierra Nunnally on second base, and a wild pitch moved her to third. After one of her 13 strikeouts, Renfroe intentionally walked Lacye Walker for the second time. Those were her only walks in the game.
Renfroe then made a fielding play and got an out at the plate. She got out of the inning without a run scorng by inducing a popout.
Craft said he told his players about midway through the game that they were being outhit. Walker, who totaled eight strikeouts and did not allow an earned run, ended up giving up five hits and three walks. Renfroe surrendered seven hits. Grace’s nine left on base were one more than Trinity had. Each stranded four in scoring position.
“We had opportunities,” Coach Walker said. “It was ours for the taking, no doubt. I think Renfroe was a little bit tired. I know Lacye was definitely tired today. I knew a mistake was going to cost the game. I was just hoping it wasn’t going to be us.”
Both teams scored in the sixth. The Lady Golden Eagles got a leadoff double by Walker, and consecutive bunt singles by Lexie Dean and Bethany Cowart brought her in.
Grace had beaten the Lady Lions 1-0 in each team’s tournament opener Tuesday night, and Trinity won a rematch 3-0 on Friday in the first game of the final.
The runs Grace scored against Trinity (49-2) were the only ones the Lady Lions allowed in the tournament. The Lady Golden Eagles return all but second baseman Noel Bartley next season.
“They’re one of the best two or three teams we’ve played this year,” Craft said. “That was definitely one of the best pitchers we’ve faced. She was masterful. When I saw their graduation ceremony last night and there was only one, I said, ‘Oh me.’ They are us a couple of years ago.”
The Lady Golden Eagles, who were playing in their first softball final, wouldn’t mind that. Trinity has played in the last five finals and won four.
Grace (33-8) now has had five athletics teams play in state finals — all this decade — but is still seeking its first championship. This was the second consecutive year the softball team advanced to the Spring Fling.
“It was an awesome season,” Coach Walker said. “It goes by fast. My little freshmen, I think, learned a lot in the last week, and I think they’re going to have the fire to want to come back. My girls have now gotten a taste of what it’s all about.”