MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Selena Leon, Greeneville’s center fielder and only senior, robbed Sequatchie County’s Allyson Davenport of a go-ahead home run in the top of the seventh inning Thursday at the Starplex No. 2 field. As a result, the Lady Greene Devils were able to defeat the Lady Indians 3-2 in a losers-bracket game in the TSSAA Class AA state softball tournament.
“That’s the black hole,” Greeneville coach Bob Fortel said of the vast territory Leon covers. “That’s where balls go to die. If there’s any air under it, she’s going to catch it.”
However, the catch, which came after Katelynne Cheatham had singled with one out, was not without some controversy.
The ball did land in the leaping Leon’s glove, but then she fell into, and ultimately over, the temporary fence — which all the Starplex fields have. The umpires conferred, ruled it a catch and awarded Cheatham a one-base advancement.
“It was caught in the field of play,” Fortel said. “That’s an out. That’s an extra base. That’s the rule. No argument.”