Pitching, ‘D’ have softball Ads 1 victory from 4-4A title
MARYVILLE — Lots of solid glove work defensively to go with outstanding pitching from sophomore ace Hallie Grace Johnson, and you have a Farragut softball team one victory away from a District 4-4A Tournament title.
Though the top-seeded Lady Ads’ bats haven’t been sizzling at William Blount High School in two tourney games, Johnson and her defense have produced a pair of shutouts. After opening with a 2-0 win versus No. 4 seed Knox West, Farragut blanked the next foe, No. 3 seed Maryville, 3-0 in a winner’s bracket game Monday night, Feb. 5.
Against the Lady Red Rebels, Johnson allowed no runs, six hits and just one walk with four strikeouts in a complete seven-inning performance.
“We made all of our plays defensively. ... Here lately we’ve been playing really solid defense,” said FHS head coach Nick Green, whose team improved to 27-10-1 and awaits the tourney loser’s bracket survivor with a chance to win the tourney title starting at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 7. “Hallie Grace has been good enough. She’s thrown three straight shutouts (including regular season).”
Scoring all three runs in the first inning versus Maryville, singles by district MVP Elsa Morrison and Johnson set up Eleena Ralston’s two-RBI single. Ralston scored on a passed bal and an error.
Logan Jameson’s single, and doubles by Wesley Green and Alexa Shrader were the other Farragut hits.
