For the third year in a row, the Midway Lady Green Waves are the Region 2A Softball Champions. The Lady Waves rolled up the Region Championship on Tuesday evening, earning a 3-0 win over the Coalfield Lady Yellow Jackets. Midway pitcher Hannah Colyer struck out twelve Jacket batters, while allowing just three hits and no runs. The Coalfield pitcher had four strikeouts, while allowing five hits and three runs. Midway’s offense started slowly, but finished strong.
For three innings, it was a defensive battle. Colyer dominated early and had seven of her strikeouts through the third. The Midway batters were putting the ball in play, but were hitting everything straight to the Coalfield gloves. It was in the fourth inning that senior Lacey Davidson took charge at the plate. Davidson drove the ball hard to right field for a single. That was the Green Team’s first base hit. Colyer quickly followed with the second hit of the night. She ripped the ball low to right center field. Davidson, who was running from first to second, narrowly missed being hit in the head with it! The ball flew past the right fielder, and Davidson came all the way around to score. That would give the Waves the only run they would need.
Paige Moree would walk to start off the fifth inning. Haley Parks moved her to second on a fielder’s choice out at first. Krystal Rue then base hit, and the Green was back in business. Taylor Narramore got an RBI on another fielder’s choice, as Moree scored. Midway now held the lead at 2-0.
In the sixth frame, Colyer helped herself again with a base hit to right center. Kati Alexander did her share by moving courtesy runner Ainsley Presswood to second on a fielder’s choice out at first. Second baseman Michele Walden then delivered a huge hit to left field to score Presswood. That stretched the Midway lead to 3-0.
The game ended with a big roar from the Green fans, as shortstop Alex Coffman again unleashed her cannon arm for two putouts at first.
The Midway defense was extremely sharp on this tonight. Alexander, Walden, Coffman, and Davidson locked the infield down tightly. In the outfield, a long fly ball catch by center fielder Rue was impressive. Catcher Haley Parks brought cheers from the Midway fans for an especially difficult play. When the ball was popped up foul by one of Coalfield’s best hitters, Parks made a tricky, over-the-shoulder catch against the backstop fence for a crucial out.
Midway will now host the Sub-State game against the Unaka Lady Rangers on Friday at 5:00 PM. The winner of this game will earn a berth in the State Tournament, which starts next Tuesday in Murfreesboro.