Oh, my!!!!! What a week for the Girls from the South. “South of the River,” that is. The Girls won against Tellico on Monday. They lost an exciting, close and long game on Tuesday to Rockwood. They came right back on Wednesday for a long four hours to eliminate Tellico in five innings and then get a thrilling win against Rockwood by one run. That set up the real championship game on Thursday night, since this was a double elimination tournament. The long week of high pressure games had nerves worn to the nub. Throw in a little drama between the coaches and fans. Even the vice principle from Rockwood would get in on the act. But the Green team from Midway was focused. They knew what was on the line, a four year district tournament championship streak. They wanted another, and they wanted it bad!!
The Lady Waves held a 4-3 lead going into the top of the sixth, and that’s where the game would be decided. The Lady Waves would send every batter in the lineup to the plate, a couple of them twice. Hit after hit. Singles, doubles, it was a beautiful thang to watch. When the inning was over, the Lady Waves had dismantled the “Green Machine” from Rockwood, piece by piece. Midway took a commanding 12-3 lead that would not be surrendered. The district championship trophy was coming Home! Where it belongs! We are sooo… proud of the Lady Waves!!!!
– Barry Narramore
Below is a recap of the tournament written by Shawn Renfro.
Round 1: vs. Tellico
On a cool, damp Monday evening, the Lady Waves began district tournament play at Rockwood against the Tellico Lady Bears. Due to losing a coin toss, Midway was given the #2 seed in the tournament. Tellico had finished third in the regular season. On this rainy day, the playing surface had been covered with a tarp prior to game time. The rain had settled into a fine drizzle, and the game was finally started, much to the delight of the Midway faithful.
Senior pitcher Michelle Walden got off to a blazing start, striking out the side in the first inning. The Lady Waves got on the scoreboard quickly. A successful bunt by center fielder Danielle Borum and a smoking hot double by senior left fielder Haley Parks contributed to two Midway runs in the inning.
In the bottom of the second, the Lady Waves showed their explosive offensive capabilities, scoring five more runs. All five of those came with two Midway outs already on the board.
The Lady Bears managed to get two runs in the top of the third inning, but Midway continued to knock the ball around. Highlights included a ground rule double by right fielder Paige Moree and a big hit by first baseman Alex Richardson. Richardson’s blast collided in-flight with the center field fence. The Lady Waves also showed off some nice base running, taking extra bases on several occasions.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, courtesy runner Halie Wiley crossed home plate on a Tellico error, putting Midway up 12-2. Wiley’s run gave the Lady Waves the victory via the run rule.
Walden may have done some of her best pitching of the season. After a strong showing at Coalfield, she came back with another great outing. Walden threw for seven strike outs, while allowing only two hits and two walks. Midway‘s top hitters included Parks (3-3, 3 RBI), Richardson (2-2, RBI), Moree (2-3, RBI) and Walden (2-4, 2 RBI).
With the win, the Lady Waves advanced in the winners’ bracket to play the #1 seeded Rockwood Lady Tigers on Tuesday. Rockwood had squeaked out a 6-5 win over #4 seeded Harriman on Monday.
Round 2: vs. Rockwood
The rain had cleared out on Tuesday, but the temperature was still a little cooler than normal for Midway‘s late evening contest with the Rockwood Lady Tigers. This meeting of the top two District 3A teams would leave the winner with a decided advantage in the tournament. Staying in the winners’ bracket would mean an easier road to the district title.
The Lady Tigers struck first with two hits in the bottom of inning number one. The second of the hits was a double that put Rockwood up 1-0.
The Lady Waves came back with a huge inning in the top of the second. Twin ground rule doubles by second baseman Taylor Narramore and pitcher Michelle Walden highlighted the inning. But the biggest shot came from center fielder Danielle Borum, who drove a three-run homer way, way, way over the left field fence to put Midway up 5-1.
Rockwood wasn’t shaken for long. The Lady Waves had a rough time in bottom of the second. A Rockwood hit, a Midway error and a few walks put the Lady Tigers right back in it. Toward the end of the inning, Walden changed places with first baseman Alex Richardson. The freshman had to take the pitching rubber with minimal warm-up time, but the Lady Waves soon settled down. After two innings, Midway still held the lead, 5-4.
Over the next three innings, however, the Lady Tigers took control. Rockwood added a run here and there, until they held an 11-5 advantage.
In the top of the sixth, the Lady Wave offense finally showed signs of life and produced two runs to narrow the margin to 11-7. The bottom of the inning was highlighted by two very good catches by senior left fielder Haley Parks, and the score remained the same.
The Lady Waves would have one more chance to make a run at it. Richardson singled and Narramore drew a walk to start the seventh. Right fielder Paige Moree knocked Richardson in, and Narramore scored when catcher Winky Stansbury reached base on an error. The Rockwood lead was narrowed to two runs, but that’s as close as the Lady Waves got. Final score: Lady Waves 9, Rockwood 11.
Midway‘s top hitters in this game included Paige Moree (3-4, 2 RBI), Taylor Narramore (2-3) and Danielle Borum (2-5, 3 RBI, HR).
Elimination Game: vs. Tellico
On Wednesday, the sun was back out and the weather had drastically warmed up. The day before, the Tellico Lady Bears had put the Harriman Lady Devils out of the tournament. That earned them the right to play the Lady Waves in Wednesday’s 5:30 elimination game. To make a long story short: Lady Waves 17, Tellico 5.
Championship Round: vs. Rockwood
After a short rest, the Lady Waves geared up to play Rockwood again. Midway had not lost a district title in five years, and the SOR girls surely did not want to break that trend. A win over the Lady Tigers would mean a final game on Thursday for all the marbles. A loss on Wednesday would mean second place.
The crowd was pumped, and so were the Lady Waves. The Midway girls jumped on Rockwood early. Senior first baseman Michelle Walden singled, and senior left fielder Haley Parks doubled. Freshman pitcher Alex Richardson brought both of them home with a big blast over the left field fence. 3-0, Midway.
In the bottom of the first, the Midway defense showed some jitters. Rockwood scored two runs.
The Lady Waves came right back at Rockwood in the second inning. Catcher Winky Stansbury singled, and center fielder Danielle Borum walked. Walden followed with her own three-run homer to left field. 6-2, Lady Waves.
In the top of the fourth, Borum singled, and quickly stole over to third. With two outs, Richardson came to the plate. She proceeded to send her second home run of the game flying over the outfield fence. Two Richardson homers! 8-2, Midway.
Over the next three innings, Rockwood made a major push, but the Lady Waves kept them at bay. The bottom of the seventh got scary for Midway. The Lady Waves led 10-7 going into the bottom. Rockwood scored two runs in the inning. However, when it came time to finish it out, the Lady Waves got the job done. Final score: Lady Waves 10, Rockwood 9.
Top hitters for Midway included Alex Richardson (3-4, 5 RBI, 2 HR), Michelle Walden (3-4, 3 RBI, HR), Winky Stansbury (2-4, RBI) and Paige Moree (2-4).
Championship Game: vs. Rockwood
The Lady Waves were right where they wanted to be on Thursday. At Rockwood, in the big game. At stake were the district championship and home field advantage in the region playoffs.
Neither team got a runner on until the second inning. Designated Player Halie Wiley was the first to reach base. Wiley beat out a throw to first for an infield single. Right fielder Paige Moree followed with a big double, but both Lady Waves were left stranded.
The Lady Tigers started strong in the bottom of the second, and controversy soon ensued. After getting two runners on, Rockwood seemingly forced a Midway error that score two runners and put one on first base. However, upon further review, the batter was called out for interference. One run was allowed, while the other runner was sent back to third base. That runner soon scored on a defensive miscue, though. 2-0, Rockwood.
The Lady Waves soon struck back. Hits by catcher Winky Stansbury and center fielder Danielle Borum were followed by an RBI single by pitcher Michelle Walden. Borum later made a great attempt at home and was called out on a close play. If the call had went the Lady Waves’ way. it would have tied the game.
The tension built, as the score remained unchanged until the top of the fifth inning. That’s when singles by Walden and left fielder Haley Parks set the stage for Midway to take the lead. First baseman Alex Richardson closed the deal. The freshman hit her third home run of the tournament to push the Lady Waves into a 4-2 lead.
The Lady Tigers narrowed the lead by one in the bottom of the fifth, with a single and a ground out RBI.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Lady Waves decided to stop playing around. The Midway offense exploded for an incredible eight runs in the inning. As a result, the SOR crowd was worked into a frenzy. The inning was highlighted with doubles by Richardson, second baseman Taylor Narramore and Stansbury. By the time the Rockwood defense got off the field, the Lady Waves held a commanding 12-3 lead.
The Lady Tigers made a push in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs.
In the top of the seventh, Midway didn’t add any runs.
This was it for the Lady Waves. Going into the bottom of the seventh inning, Midway was up by seven, needing just three outs. Rockwood managed to get two runners on base with none out. That’s when Midway‘s third baseman, Hali Morris, came through in a big way. On Rockwood‘s third batter of the inning, Morris fielded a grounder and threw to first for the force. On the next batter, Rockwood had runners on second and third. The batter lined the ball hard to Morris. She made a nice grab, then doubled up the runner who had left third. District Champions! Five straight! Lady Waves 12, Rockwood 5.
The Midway lineup as a whole hit very well in this game, and the defense was solid.
With this victory, the Lady Waves secure their fifth consecutive District 3A championship. The Midway girls get to celebrate for a short time, then they must look to the region playoffs. In the opening round of region play, the Lady Waves will host the Oliver Springs Lady Bobcats. The game is scheduled for Monday. Game time is yet to be announced.
Following the Lady Waves’ victory on Thursday, the All-Tournament team was announced. The tournament’s Most Valuable Player award went to Midway freshman Alex Richardson. Also making the All-Tournament squad for the Lady Waves were seniors Michelle Walden and Haley Parks, junior Paige Moree and sophomore Danielle Borum.
Four members of the Lady Waves also made the All-District team for the regular season. Walden, Parks and Richardson received that honor, along with junior Taylor Narramore.