The Upperman Lady Bees clinched a spot in the region tournament and a berth in the District 8/AA championship game with a 15-11 win over Macon County on Wednesday in Watertown.
The Lady Bees used an 11-run fourth inning to propel themselves to the critical victory.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our entire team,” said UHS head coach Dustin Williams.
The Tigerettes raced out to an early lead as Maddy Cunningham hit a two-RBI double with two outs to give MCHS a 3-0 lead after one inning. They then extended the advantage to 5-0 on a two-run home run by Cadence Carter.
The Lady Bees got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second as Bailea Colson scored a run to make it 5-1. Leah McElhaney began to settle into the circle, holding MCHS scoreless in the next two innings.
UHS brought another run across in the bottom of the third before the offensive explosion in the fourth. Reagan Hurst cranked a three-run homer to give the Lady Bees a 6-5 lead. Colson added a two-run blast as 16 Lady Bees batted in the frame and UHS opened a 13-5 lead.
“(The key was) putting the ball in play with authority,” said Williams. “We were very good in the bottom of the fourth inning at putting the ball in play with authority. When you put the ball in play, good things are going to happen for you. We also had two home runs by our two seniors. I couldn’t be more proud of their leadership this season.”
The Tigerettes threatened to erase the deficit early in the sixth as Carter hit another two-run homer, and Trista Jenkins added one of her own to cut it to 14-9. Hurst then came into the circle in relief and retired the final three batters of the frame.
Each team added a run in the seventh, but the Lady Bees held on to secure their second win against Macon County this season.
McElhaney earned the win for UHS. She allowed 10 earned runs on 13 hits with three walks and five strikeouts in five innings.
“I know we gave up some runs, but I couldn’t be more proud of the game (McElhaney) had,” said Williams. “She never gets frustrated and flustered. She just goes out there and does a good job. She kept us in that game. Her and that defense.”
Hurst threw two innings in relief, allowing one earned run on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
The Lady Bees will take on the Tigerettes again on Thursday in Watertown in the championship round of the tournament. If UHS wins, they will win the tournament, if the Tigerettes win the two teams will face off again immediately following game one in a winner-take-all showdown. The winner of the tournament will host Bledsoe County to open the district tournament, the second-place team will travel to Sequatchie County.
“Tomorrow we can just go out there and know that win, lose or draw our season continues,” said Williams. “We can go out and play very relaxed.”
Photos by Noah McKay:
