Avery Flatford (12) and the Farragut Lady Admirals played the Dickson County Lady Cougars in a TSSAA Class AAA state tournament quarterfinal on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at StarPlex in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Farragut won 3-1. (Photo by Danny Parker)
By MIKE BLACKERBY
MURFREESBORO — Farragut can beat you in so many ways.
Tuesday it was Cameron Young’s turn in the opening round of the state Class AAA softball tournament.
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The Lady Admirals’ standout senior third baseman drilled a line drive home run over the center-field fence in the third inning to stake Farragut to a 2-1 lead over Dickson County.
The Lady Admirals added an insurance run in the sixth inning on their way to a 3-1 win over the Lady Cougars.
Farragut (34-2) advances in the winner’s bracket against Coffee County (31-5-1), which blanked Collierville 11-0 Tuesday.
The Lady Admirals and Coffee County square off at 11:30 a.m. (Central) Wednesday.
“We definitely want to stay out of the loser’s bracket,” said Farragut coach Nick Green.
“We’d like to stay on top and preferably play one game a day.”
Dickson County (29-12) faces a Wednesday elimination game against Collierville.
Young “knew” it was coming
Farragut anticipated a steady diet of change-ups from Dickson County pitcher Ashlan Sensing Tuesday.
That’s what Young was waiting on before belting her home run.
“I was kind of expecting it and I got really good extension on it,” said Young.
“That (Young’s home run) was definitely the hitting highlight,” said Green, whose Lady Admirals mustered just three hits off Sensing.
“Cameron’s home run was big. We responded after they scored to tie it in the top of the inning.”
Farragut scored its third run in the sixth when Lauren Brakovec tripled. Jordan Kanipe went in as a courtesy runner and scored on an infield error.
Flatford shines again
Farragut junior ace Avery Flatford, coming off a no-hitter against Tennessee High in the sectionals, allowed just two hits, fanned 10 and walked one as she improved to 19-0.
“That was definitely a pitchers’ matchup,” said Green.
It was a good thing Flatford was on top of her game.
Sensing gave up only one earned run and the three hits.
Flatford didn’t allow a hit over the final four innings.
Farragut is seeking its first state title since 1982.