Tuesday evening’s match-up between the Midway Lady Waves and the Coalfield Lady Jackets featured two of the elite class A softball teams in Tennessee. Both teams were participants in last year’s TSSAA state tournament. Midway and Coalfield are also both at least tied for the lead in their respective district standings. The game, which is a non-district contest, may not mean anything when it comes to the two schools’ positions in the standings. However, it was highly anticipated by many local fast pitch fans. One reason is because it involves two teams that could possibly meet up again in a couple weeks for the Region 2A championship.
It was obvious early on that this game would be a defensive battle. Coalfield’s All-State pitcher Lindsey Fadnek was definitely on her game, but Midway hurler Michelle Walden also threw for one of her best games of the season.
The Lady Waves threatened in the bottom of the second inning, when first baseman Alex Richardson hit the ball deep to right field for a stand-up double. Unfortunately, Richardson was stranded on third.
Walden didn’t shy away from the Lady Jacket batters, and the capable Midway defense fielded ball after ball for out after out. In the top of the third, center fielder Danielle Borum singled with two outs, but was also left on base.
Midway’s defense continued to be solid, and Walden had a no-hitter going until the bottom of the fourth inning. That’s when things started going Coalfield’s way. A hit and a couple of walks in the fourth loaded the bases for the Lady Jackets, and Coalfield ended up scoring one run in the inning.
The offense of the Lady Waves has been explosive at times this season, especially in the second half of games. Against Fadnek on this day, the Midway girls just couldn’t get anything going. The Lady Waves made contact with the ball on many pitches, but the Coalfield defense was pretty solid.
Midway got out of a jam in the bottom of the sixth. With two Coalfield runners on, Walden threw a strike out for the third out of the inning. However, the Lady Waves were once again scoreless in the top of the seventh. Final score: Lady Waves 0, Coalfield 1.
Fadnek had a great game from the pitching rubber for the Lady Jackets, throwing for nine strike outs while giving up only two hits and no walks.
Richardson (1-3) and Borum (1-3) were the only Midway batters to reach base on the day.
For the Lady Waves, this was the last game of the regular season. After a forfeit win over Grace, the SOR girls have finished the regular season as District 3A co-champions. Midway shares the title with Rockwood. The Lady Waves will start district tournament play on Monday. They will play Tellico. The tournament will be at Rockwood.
The Coalfield game was a loss, but it was a well-played game for Midway. It could have went either way, and hopefully we’ll see a rematch on the Lady Waves’ home turf in about two weeks.