Silverdale Baptist Academy's Kayleigh Page makes to catch at second as Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences' Makyah Reynolds slides in Thursday, May 11, 2017 at Warner Park.Silverdale Baptist Academy gave up 10 hits, struck out 11 times and made four errors to Arts & Sciences' two. And no, the final score wasn't close.
But Silverdale was the one that cruised to a 10-3 victory over CSAS in the championship game Thursday of the District 5-A high school softball tournament at Warner Park.
The Lady Seahawks (19-2) will host Marion County in one of Monday's Region 3 semifinals. CSAS (12-13) will play at Whitwell, which defeated Marion 7-0 for the District 6 crown.
Monday's winners will advance to Wednesday's region final. Both finalists will move on to Friday's state sectionals with region champions playing at home.
Mercy-rule victories over district opponents had been the norm all season for the Lady Seahawks. This was their fourth time overall beating the second-seeded Lady Patriots, and the closest game yet.
"I don't care what level you're talking about, it's hard to beat somebody four times," Silverdale first-year coach Glen Woodard said. "I think their pitcher and their coaching staff started adjusting some things. She was throwing a riseball, and we were swinging and missing at it. We finally made the adjustment to lay off of it."
The Lady Patriots scored a run in the top of the first inning and also led 3-2 after scoring twice in the third. But a five-run bottom of the third, capped by eighth-grader Skylar Sheridan's three-run homer, put SBA in control.
Woodard also credited the CSAS batters for making some modifications since the last time they saw pitcher Emily Harkleroad, who did not give up an extra-base hit. She allowed no walks and had 11 strikeouts.
"They started timing her a little bit," Woodard said. "We had to start going off-speed a little bit. Once we got up three or four runs, I think they started to get a little bit down and started pressing a little bit with their hitting."
Harkleroad also sparked the Lady Seahawks' 12-hit attack from the leadoff spot. She went 3-for-4 with a triple, reached on an error and scored all four times. Batting second, Skylar Parton also was 3-for-4, driving in a run, scoring one and stealing a base.
No. 3 batter Kaili Crawley had a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly, and Savannah Turner right behind her was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a run scored and two stolen bases. No. 9 batter Kenzie Manning was 2-for-3 with a double and scored twice.
"Their lineup is lethal," CSAS coach Michelle Meyners said. "You get through one and they've got another one waiting."
Nonetheless, she was proud of her daughter Lexie's performance in the pitching circle.
"This tournament she turned it on," Coach Meyners said. "Hopefully that's going to lead us into the region."
Alaina Thomas was 3-for-4 with two RBIs for the Lady Patriots and was robbed of a hit and an RBI by shortstop Lexi Vogel's diving catch in the shallow outfield in the fifth. Joya Greer went 3-for-4, scored twice and had a steal for CSAS. Makayla Ragland went 2-for-3.
"Yeah, we'd like to be first, but we're proud of being second," Coach Meyners said. "We're just young. We've got two seniors and one junior. Hopefully this is the beginning of something big."
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.