By Michael Lindsay
Macon County’s and Gordonsville’s softball programs will have a shot at the state tournament later this week following a pair of wins in their respective classes Monday afternoon in the region tournament semifinal round.
Gordonsville defeated Trousdale County in the Region 4A semis, 6-1, while Macon County won at Lincoln County in the Region 4/AAA tournament, 6-4.
Each team will play in Wednesday’s region championship and Friday’s state sectionals with the state tournament on the line. Gordonsville will travel to Jo Byrns in the Region 4A championship while Macon County will host Page in the Region 4-3A title.
Clay County, Cookeville and Upperman also competed in their respective region tournament semifinals Monday, but each team was defeated to wrap up their season.
Gordonsville
The Gordonsville Tigerettes secured their spot in the Region 4A championship Monday afternoon as they defeated Trousdale County in the region semifinals, 6-1.
Sophomore pitcher Kailey Plumlee pitched a gem as the lefty struck out 16 batters and gave up only 2 hits and 1 run in 7 innings.
After 5 scoreless innings, Gordonsville’s offense erupted for 6 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Libby Clark started the rally as she scored via an error, followed by singles from Kailyn Roberts, Kelsie Watts and Kara Thompson to drive in 5 runs and give the Tigerettes a 6-0 lead entering the 6th inning.
Trousdale scored via error in the top of the sixth inning with 2 outs, but Gordonsville kept the damage minimal as Plumlee ended the inning via strikeout.
Plumlee shut the door in the top of the seventh inning as she struck out the side to seal Gordonsville’s 6-1 victory.
The Tigerettes travel to Jo Byrns on Wednesday for the Region 4A championship and have automatically qualified for Friday’s sectional against either South Pittsburg or the winner of Tuesday afternoon’s Sale Creek/Whitwell game.
Macon County
The Macon County Tigerettes hit the road to Lincoln County Monday and left with a 6-4 victory over the Falcons and a berth in the Region 4/AAA championship and Class 3A sectionals.
Macon County third baseman Kenley Roark went 3-4 with 2 doubles, a run scored and an RBI in Monday’s region semifinal victory. Macy Meador went 2-4 with 2 runs scored for the Tigerettes.
Pitcher Ellie Coley went the distance in the circle as she recorded 2 strikeouts and gave up 4 runs against the District 8/AAA champion Lady Falcons.
Macon County struck early as a Gianna Holden double scored Meador in the top of the first to give the Tigerettes a 1-0 lead.
Lincoln County answered in the bottom of the third inning via a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead over Macon County.
After scratching a run across to tie the game in the top of the fourth, the Tigerettes’ bats came to life in the top of the fifth inning as they posted 4 runs to take a commanding 6-2 lead.
An Ellie Coley single to right scored Katie Shockley and Meador before a Ryleigh Coley double drove in Ellie Coley and Roark to give Macon County their 6-2 advantage.
Lincoln County scored 1 run in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to trail 6-4 entering the seventh. The Lady Falcons had a runner on in the bottom of the seventh inning but threatened no further as Macon County recorded the final out to win 6-4.
Macon County will host Page in Wednesday’s Region 4/AAA championship. The Tigerettes automatically qualify for Friday’s Class 3A sectional against either East Hamilton or the winner of Tuesday’s Soddy Daisy/Sequoyah game.
Complete softball region and state tournament information can be found here: https://tssaasports.com/sports/softball/
