Soddy Daisy senior shortstop Lily Blaylock could not hold back her happiness. Soon after firing the ball across the softball diamond for the final out of Monday’s 10-8 come-from-behind home win over Heritage in the Region 3-AAA semifinals, the team sparkplug leapt into the arms of junior Ava Blue to celebrate.
Senior two-way star Izzy Webb was sensational as the Bryan College signee threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings in relief while also collecting three hits and driving in four huge runs to bring her RBI total to a whopping 60 on the season. That performance helped Soddy Daisy (22-18-1) rally from an 8-1 second-inning deficit to advance to Wednesday’s region championship game at Alcoa.
“Izzy’s senior leadership was incredible,” Lady Trojans’ second-year head coach Chris Day said. “She has the perfect temperament. She is a bulldog out there and is just so solid. The whole team really feeds off what she and Lily are able to do out there in the field and at the plate. They never show any panic.”
Blue was able to provide the lead for good in the bottom of the third as the cleanup hitter drilled an opposite-field RBI double to right field following a game-tying RBI line-drive single to center by Webb.
Soddy Daisy vs. Heritage softball on May 11, 2026
Soddy Daisy scored four runs in the second and third innings, while Blaylock accounted for her team’s first two runs, which included stealing three bases in the first two innings and providing an RBI slap single deep to shortstop. Blaylock has stolen 35 bases in 31 games played in a season in which she has hit .452 with 44 runs scored.
Blaylock, a Chattanooga State signee, also helped turn a crucial double play to end the top of the fifth as senior right fielder Addy Standefer made a great catch and doubled off the runner at second.
“We were down 8-1, and we just chip, chip, chip, chip, chip away,” Day said. “I kept telling them we are at home, and I believed they could do it. They played great defense, and Izzy really locked down.
“All of the girls shined in their roles and showed how tough and scrappy they are. We are really hitting the ball well. The girls are really pulling for each other too, and to see their hard work pay off with a win like this is amazing.”
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Heritage (23-15) had its season come to a close despite scattering 15 hits as a team and getting a four-RBI performance from shortstop Emma Lonas.
Soddy Daisy’s Abby Pinson reached base safely in all four plate appearances, as she had three hits, including one of her team’s four doubles, and also walked.
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After being battle-tested in the regular season with a pair of games apiece against powerhouses like Baylor, Silverdale Baptist, Chattanooga Christian, and Boyd Buchanan, Day’s team is reaping the benefits this postseason.
“I would put our schedule against anyone’s in the state,” Day said. “Our losses are against state tournament teams and future state champions. It’s not fun sometimes playing a hard schedule like that, but it makes you better at the end of the day. I mean, it gets you right here to where you don’t panic.
“They cleaned up their early mistakes and believed they could make it happen together and played great as a team to win this game.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.