By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
CENTRE – Shortly after their area softball loss to Alexandria on Monday, in which they only managed three hits, the Cherokee County Lady Warriors immediately went to work in the batting cages.
On Tuesday in a rematch of Saturday’s Cherokee County Tournament championship game with Spring Garden, the Lady Warriors were more aggressive at the plate, and it finally paid off for them in their last at-bat.
Sophomore shortstop Emma Thompson delivered the game-winning two-run double to left field in a 4-2 walk-off win.
“We mainly went in the cages to work on what we were not hitting yesterday,” Cherokee County coach Jessica Rathje Hull said. “I talked to them about being aggressive, having a plan, knowing what they want when they step in the box and executing, having that 0-2 count and being prepared to hit something they may not like, to foul it off and do something with it. I would prefer it earlier, and that’s what we talked to them about, having that aggressiveness, that drive, that sense of urgency at the beginning of the game and not wait until the bottom of the seventh to get it done.
“Emma Thompson has been working in the cages, and it was good to see her finally get her moment and shine.”
In her final at-bat Tuesday, Thompson was looking fastball and she got it from Spring Garden senior pitcher Avery Steward.
“There was just one out and I knew I had to put something in play,” she said. “I just told myself to hit it and get a base hit.”
The Lady Warriors were trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch hitter Izzy Patterson led off by getting hit by a pitch, bringing leadoff batter Brooklynn Bruce up to the plate. Bruce, who went 3-for-4 at the plate, delivered a single to left. Sydni Frost then drew a walk to load the bases with no outs.
Pitcher Bristol Bass then singled to right to tie the game at 2, setting the stage for Thompson’s walk-off hit.
Bass, who came in to pitch after Emma Hill tossed the first inning, scattered five hits, a walk and three strikeouts to earn the win in the circle for the Lady Warriors (10-2). She surrendered just one earned run in the top of the fifth.
“Bristol held it down (in the circle). She did a great job,” Hull said.
Bass was also 2-for-3 at the plate and was also hit by a pitch. Emma Eberhart added a double at the plate for the Lady Warriors.
Steward suffered the tough-luck loss for Spring Garden (2-4). She allowed seven hits, a pair of walks and struck out five. She also had a bunt single in the top of the seventh.
Layla Ingram had a pair of hits and drove in a run for the Lady Panthers. Rylie Ham also had a pair of hits. Maggie Jarrett singled and also drove in a run. Olivia Law finished with a hit. Helena Ingram drew a walk.
“I just told them to make this a good learning experience,” Spring Garden coach Ann Welsh said. “We’ve got to be better at moving people around and backing up the person that’s in front of us. I felt like we improved from this weekend (in the county tournament). I was proud of Avery. She pitched better. She’s starting to get more in a groove, but we’ve just got to back her up a little more, score a few more runs and give us a little more cushion.”
