Harriman Wins District 3-A Softball Championship
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By Terry Futrell
The final game for the district championship was originally scheduled to be played on Saturday. Based on predictions of heavy rainfall, the decision was made to go ahead and finish the tournament on Friday evening. Coalfield had already played two games and the impact of fatigue on the Lady Jackets remained to be seen. Coalfield pitcher Anna Smith had already thrown 158 pitches in the two earlier games. It took only three innings to show that the Lady Jackets were not at their sharpest when Harriman took a 13-4 lead on their way to winning the district crown by a score of 16-11.
After Harriman took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, the Lady Jackets came back strong and took a 3-1 lead in the top of the second. With two outs, Coalfield batters truly “stepped up to the plate”. Lindsey Maston drew a walk. Then came four consecutive hits by the Lady Jackets. Taylor Landrum singled to center field, and Alexis Morrison hit a ground ball double to center field scoring Lindsey. Leeah Henry singled on an infield pop fly, scoring both Landrum and Morrison. Mikayla Heidle followed up with a single on an infield grounder, but both Henry and Heidle were stranded on base as the inning closed.
Harriman added another point to their score in the bottom of the second as the result of an error. Breeanna Hickey walked, then Nataya Moore bunted and reached base on an error, scoring Hickey. Coalfield led 3-2 after two innings.
Coalfield registered three singles in the top of the third, but managed to put only one point on the board and led 4-2. Bella Armes, a courtesy runner for Smith, scored on a single by Maston.
The bottom of the third inning is hard to describe. Like shattered glass, Coalfield’s hopes for a championship were dimmed as 16 Harriman batters took their turn at the plate. The Lady Devils tied the score at 4-4 but had two outs. Harriman then proceeded to add nine more points before Coalfield could get the third out and close out the disastrous inning. Coalfield pitchers walked five Harriman batters, two batters were hit by pitches, and the Lady Jackets committed one error. Harriman batters also recorded three singles and two doubles as they pulled away leading 13-4.
Coalfield and Harriman each added an additional score in the fourth inning. Harriman led 14-5.
The Lady Jackets made a run for it in the top of the sixth. Leeah Henry led off a solo home run over the center field fence. Heidle then singled to center field. Malachi Armes reached base on an error by the Harriman infield, followed by consecutive singles by Mackenzy Morgan and Anna Smith. The Lady Jackets added four runs, making the score 14-9.
As one would expect from a champion team, Harriman responded to Coalfield’s advance by scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Aleena Goldston doubled to center field. Harlea Shillings singled to left, and Goldston scored. Micaela Goins doubled on a fly ball to deep center field, scoring Shillings. Harriman led 16-9.
The Lady Jackets had one more opportunity for a comeback in the top of the seventh. Coalfield batters hit three singles and a double, scoring two and closing the gap to 16-11. Morrison, Henry, and Malachi Armes each hit a single, and Morgan hit a double on a deep fly ball to center field. The inning and the game closed with Anna Smith hitting a deep line drive to left field that was captured by Olivia Goins.
The Harriman Lady Devils walked away with a 16-11 victory and the District 3-A championship. Harriman will host Tellico Plains on Monday in regional competition. The Coalfield Lady Jackets finished their highly successful season as runners-up in the district and will travel to Sale Creek on Monday for their regional match.