Rally to repeat: Lady Rebels demote Lady Admirals, 3-2, to win district again

By Ryan Callahan
of The Daily Times Staff

KNOXVILLE -- The celebration began for the Maryville softball team almost as soon as Brittany Monday's final pitch hit the glove of catcher Kim Whaley.

All Monday could do was take a long-awaited sigh of relief.

The Lady Rebels wrapped up their second consecutive District 4-AAA Tournament championship Wednesday night in dramatic fashion, rallying late from a 1-0 deficit and holding on for a 3-2 victory over No. 1 seed Farragut at South-Doyle High School.

Second-seeded Maryville (20-6) took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth off Farragut senior Rachel Ingleby, and Monday (13-4) escaped a seventh-inning jam to give the Lady Rebels their fourth district-tournament title in seven years.

"It's so special to go back to back," Maryville coach Ken Hawkins said.

"Last year, we weren't expected to (win the district). This year, we were expected to. But to do it again, and against such a quality opponent, I'm just thrilled."

Meredith Niethammer, who was named the tournament's most valuable player, drove in the tying run in the sixth and later put the Lady Rebels ahead for good by scoring on Whaley's double down the left-field line.

Later in the inning, Chancli Connatser added what proved to be the deciding run with an RBI single to right-center field.

Farragut (27-9) clinched a spot in next week's Region 2-AAA Tournament earlier in the day with a six-inning, 10-0 win over William Blount and threatened to force a winner-take-all championship game today.

The Lady Admirals scored in the seventh on an errant throw by Whaley and moved the tying and go-ahead runs into scoring position before Monday struck out Abby Martin and Keri Meade to end the game.

"It was a big relief (to get the final out)," said Monday, who allowed only a pair of unearned runs on two hits to earn the complete-game win after taking a shot to the ribs in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Lady Admirals.

Maryville will play at home Monday at 6 p.m. in the Region 2-AAA semifinals against the District 3 runner-up.

Farragut 10, WB 0

The Lady Admirals broke open a pitchers' duel with a six-run fourth inning to advance to the championship game and lock up a spot in the region tournament.

Freshman pitcher Erica Tuck allowed seven runs -- five earned -- on seven hits with four walks and a strikeout for William Blount, which saw its most successful season under third-year coach Abbie Mitchell come to an end.

"They hit the lights out, and we just couldn't put it together," Mitchell said. "I did everything I knew to do to stop the bleeding -- switched pitchers and everything. Farragut's just really hot right now, and they're going to hit."

The Lady Govs put a runner on base in all six innings against Ingleby but left nine runners on base and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

"That's been the story of our season," Mitchell said. "We scatter our hits instead of putting them all together."