The Midway Lady Waves avenged an early season loss to McMinn County on Thursday. This game allowed Lacey Davidson, the lone senior on the team, a final regular season victory. Lacey’s big heart and great smile have been around Midway softball for years. She will be greatly missed. Some people think that Lacey has been playing long enough that she might be eligible for retirement pay. When she was younger, Lacey played softball in the Youth League for several seasons. Her older sister, Lyndsay, was one of the best players in the League. In order for the sisters to be on the same team, Lacey would always “play up.” All the other girls on Lacey’s team would be older than she was. Some were as much as three years older. This didn’t stop her from always winning a starting position. Those Youth League teams were always good, and Lacey always made big contributions to them. Over the past four years, she has also contributed greatly to her High School team. Lacey has been an essential member of the last two State Tournament teams. Playing third base for the Lady Waves, her strong arm has thrown out many a runner. Her reliable bat has been a staple of Lady Wave softball. Replacing Lacey Davidson at third base next season will be hard. Replacing her in the hearts of Midway softball fans… that will be impossible.
On Thursday, the Lady Waves grabbed a 1-0 lead and held on for five innings. In the bottom of the first, Alex Coffman drove the ball hard to left field and ended up on second base. Lacey Davidson would ground out to move Coffman to third. Hannah Colyer singled to drive in Coffman. That would be the only score until the sixth inning.
Colyer started off the sixth frame by accidentally giving a McMinn batter a taste of just how hard she can throw. The McMinn player took one for the team, but I would guess, at the time, that she would have gladly given it back!! After a temporary recovery time, the batter/runner stole second, moved to third on a ground out, and then scored on a fielder’s choice to first. The score was then tied at 1-1.
Midway would leave two runners stranded, but could not gain a lead in the bottom of the sixth. McMinn came storming back again in their last at bat. After two Midway errors, McMinn would have runners on first and second with no outs. Davidson then made a great play on the ball and threw to Coffman at third to get the first out. Another error would load the bases, and there was still just one out. The Green fans were looking nervous. The next batter would ground the ball to Kati Alexander at first. Alexander fielded the ball and made the throw to Haley Parks to get the force out at home. The next batter would pop-out to pitcher Hannah Colyer for the third out. Whew, that was close!!!
Midway had one last at-bat to end this game, and they took advantage of that opportunity. After a strike-out by Midway, Parks would get the Green started with a walk. Krystal Rue hit a hard shot to the shortstop, who mishandled the ball and overthrew to the second baseman. That allowed Parks and Rue to advance to second and third. Taylor Narramore then drew a walk to load the bases. Little Alex Coffman would then come up with a big-time hit. The ball came off Coffman’s bat, split the McMinn County pitcher’s legs, and continued into the outfield. Parks crossed home plate, scoring the winning run. Final Score: Midway 2, McMinn County 1.
Colyer would pitch all seven innings, throwing yet another no-hitter. She struck out eight batters and allowed only one run. Midway finishes the regular season, going undefeated at home. The SOR girls will now enter post-season play. This year’s District Tournament is at Harriman. The Lady Waves will play on Monday night, at 7:00 PM. They will face the winner of the play-in game between Greenback and Grace Christian.