FHS softball battled out of loser’s bracket
It took three innings for Farragut High School’s softball team to get a hit in the second round of the District 4-AAA Tournament. But that didn’t mean the Lady Admirals couldn’t manufacture any early offense.
Top-seeded Farragut used four first-inning walks and Andrea Sarhatt was hit by a pitch, resulting in two runs. By the end of the night, the Lady Admirals did pound out 10 hits in a 9-0 victory over Heritage Friday evening, May 4, at FHS’s Bellamy Field.
However, an 11-7 loss to William Blount (No. 2 seed) in the winner’s bracket third-round game Monday evening, May 7, left the Lady Admirals having to survive out of the loser’s bracket (played after deadline).
FHS 9 Heritage 0
“This game was a grind and Heritage is a good team,” Farragut head coach David Moore said after the Lady Admirals (24-6) took advantage of some of their early chances and remained in the winner’s bracket of the tournament and enjoyed a day off Saturday. “Heritage can swing the bats, no doubt about it.
“But we’ve got to keep battling and we’ve got to keep moving on. We have to continue to have good pitching, play solid defense and get timely hitting. That’s what it’s all about,” he added.
Farragut got things started in the bottom of the first inning when senior center fielder Andrea Sarhatt, 4-AAA Player of the Year, was hit by a pitch.
She would steal second and advance to third when Devon Weller lifted a fly ball to deep right field, before Lady Mountaineers ace Jazmine Geary really began to struggle with her command. She walked Kelsie Tuggle and Cameron Young to load the bases.
Sarhatt scored when Katie Tuggle drew a free pass with the bases loaded to give the Lady Ads a 1-0 lead. Katie Tuggle also walked with the bases loaded to extend FHS’s advantage.
Things could have been worse for Heritage (14-21), but Geary found her way out of the frame with the bases loaded.
“Jazmine got herself out of some jams,” Moore said. “We didn’t get a hit until Katie singled in the third inning.”
Farragut freshman Cameron Young also labored in the circle, but managed to escape damage though the Lady Mountaineers had runners on base in each of the first four innings.
The Lady Admirals took a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a two-run single by Bailey Myers and an RBI single by Katie Tuggle, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
“It took everybody on the team today,” Katie Tuggle said. “We were able to jump on our opportunities. It was just a great team effort.
“Everybody contributed and we needed everybody today.”
Ashleigh Geary took over in the circle in the bottom of the fifth and was promptly greeted rudely when Bailey Young doubled. She was lifted for courtesy runner Josie Brooker, who scored when Kelsie Tuggle, who went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and a run, droive in a pair of runs.
Farragut closed the game with a flourish at the plate, scoring three runs with five hits. Sarhatt delivered the big blow with a two-run single.
Olivia Parrott also had a scoring single that plated Jordan Kanipe.
“David Moore and (assistant coach) Nick (Green) do a great job. You know that Farragut will play good defense and swing the bats,” Heritage head coach Jeff Sherman said.
