How last year's runnerup trophy motivated Eagleville softball to win first TSSAA state championship
MURFREESBORO — Eagleville softball players remembered the feeling of accepting a runner-up trophy and watching the state champions celebrate.
A year later, they were on a mission to be on the other end of the postgame theatrics.
The Lady Eagles completed that mission Saturday with a 5-3 win over district rival Huntland in the Class 1A state championship game at Starplex.
"It sucked, getting second last year, and we all talked about that view," Eagleville junior outfielder Bella Bain said. "We didn't want that again. We visualized this all season."
Eagleville (22-8) finished on a seven-game winning streak, all after losing to Huntland (23-7) for the fourth time this season during the District 9-1A championship game. The Lady Eagles knocked off the Lady Hornets in the region finals and twice at state.
"We didn't peak during the regular season, for sure," Eagleville coach Bridgette Sanders said. "We picked the right two weeks to peak. That's how it happens sometimes."
Eagleville did most of its damage in the first with four runs. A two-run error by the Lady Hornets, followed by an RBI-double by Bain and an RBI-single by Piper Gardner gave the Lady Eagles a 4-1 lead.
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After Eagleville added another run, Huntland pitcher Ashtyn Danley, a Florida State commitment, belted a two-run homer in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 5-3, but Eagleville freshman pitcher Addisyn Linton shut the door from there.
"We told ourselves the pressure was on them," said Linton, who allowed six hits and one earned run in a complete game. "We just played how we play. We knew we had to make the plays and hit the ball, and we did."
Bain was 1-for-2 with two runs and an RBI. Gardner finished 2-for-3.
Danley was 2-for-3 with the homer and allowed five hits and just one earned run over six innings.
"We just have to get back to work," said Huntland coach Daniel Wiggs, whose squad will return Danley next season. "Hopefully it will hurt enough to make them want to come back and get one step closer."
'Played the game for him'
Eagleville assistant coach Tommy Bain, who collapsed during Friday's winners bracket final victory over Huntland and was taken to the hospital, was resting Saturday and not at the game.
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The Lady Eagles wore red ribbons to honor his absence.
"We played the game for him today," Linton said.
"I was doing it for my dad ... everyone was," added Bella Bain.
Bain had been the team's third base coach all season.
"He's the heart," Sanders said. "Not only is he the brightest softball mind I've been around, but he's also dad to two of the girls and a second dad to the rest of them. They knew what they had to do for him today. They stood behind Bella and Brinli. They weren't just a team today, they were family."
Defensive move pays off
Eagleville made a big defensive move during the postseason and didn't lose another game.
Freshman Brinli Bain was moved from catcher to second base to help solidify the defense and Rylee Warbritton was moved to catcher. Emmaline Whitt, who sat out until the postseason after transferring from Central Magnet, took over at third.
"We needed the help in the infield, and we knew Brinli could get it done," Warbritton said. "It really helped our team out."
"Rylee catches me in the bullpen and stuff, so it wasn't a big difference," Linton said. "It helped our defense stay focused, with Brinli out there talking to them."
Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Eagleville softball wins first TSSAA state tournament championship
