Addie Connell’s last season playing for Silverdale Baptist Academy will close with a notable first.
The Lady Seahawks won the Region 2-A championship Thursday to become the first girls’ flag football team from Chattanooga to earn a spot at the annual TSSAA Spring Fling, a moment that had Connell shedding happy tears soon after the victory as she talked about what her program’s journey to this point means to her.
Connell, junior Macie Curtis, sophomore Lola Gore, freshman Lyla Hixon and their teammates were 30-8 winners against Sale Creek at Seahawk Stadium, which was jam-packed despite the early afternoon hour for the region tournament title game.
Coach Jake Ledbetter’s team improved to 17-2 overall, and Silverdale has outscored its opposition 598-71 in the program’s second season of competition. The Lady Seahawks will be among the eight teams competing for the Class A state title next Friday, May 15, at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro.
“There is no limit with us,” Connell said. “We just enjoy every opportunity we have to all be together. Last year we only won two games, and now we are headed to the ‘Boro for the Spring Fling. God has blessed our team. Not only in a winning way, but also by giving us a family. For a lot of us, playing flag football has been an escape for us to be here and to be together and lean on each other. It’s more than just a team.