FHS diamond duo one victory from midstate: Lady Admirals softball

Farragut High School used the big inning Monday night, May 17, to win its Region 2-AAA softball semifinal against Karns.

The Lady Admirals used a five-run first inning to set the tone for their 9-0 victory over the Lady Beavers in an elimination game at FHS’s Bellamy Field.

While Farragut’s bats were hot early, Lady Ad’ ace, junior left-hander Avery Flatford, posted another dominant performance in the circle.

She threw six scoreless innings and allowed two walks, hit a batter and surrendered a single to Karns leadoff hitter Elizabeth Breeden in the top of the first. Breeden, Karns right fielder, reached second on an error before Flatford (15-0) slammed the door on the Lady Beavers (19-14-1) by striking out Hanna Bogoski and Shelby Armstrong to end the top of the opening frame.

“Flatford had another good game on the mound,” FHS head coach Nick Green said. “She gave up a hit to their first batter, she had two walks and she hit a batter, and that was it.”

After hurling six frames, Flatford gave way to Emma MacTavish, who tossed a scoreless seventh, retiring the

Lady Beavers in order to bring the game and their 2021 campaign to an end.

Offensively, the Lady Admirals (31-2) came out blazing as they put up five runs in the bottom of the first, pounding out three extra-base hits in the inning.

Designated player Hannah Pfeifer drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the first. She stole second and came home with the game’s first run when Cameron Young doubled.

“Cameron always has good at-bats,” Green said.

And that was only the beginning.

Young scored when Lauren Brakovec doubled to make it 2-0 before shortstop Ava Guzowski clubbed a two-run homer and chased Karns starter Alyssa Maples from the circle. Farragut scored another run with the aid of an error by the Lady Beavers.

Anna McPherson finished the inning in the circle, and she would keep the Farragut offense at bay through the second and third innings.

“We came out swinging, but give credit to Karns,” Green said. “They changed pitchers and McPherson did a good job keeping us off balance for a while.”

The Lady Ads would score two runs off McPherson when Emily Musco tripled and later scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 6-0. FHS picked up another run in the frame when Brakovec — who went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored — drove in Pfeifer with a single.

Farragut, which played Powell in the Region 2-AAA championship game Wednesday, May 19 (after deadline), added two more runs in the sixth on a triple by Autumn Caywood and an RBI groundout by Jordan Kanipe.

Farragut’s win Monday assured it of a state sectional appearance Friday, May 21.