Cameron Young hugs her teammates after the Farragut Admirals defeated Coffee County in the TSSAA Class AAA state championship on Friday, May 28, 2021, at StarPlex in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Farragut won 4-2. (Photo by Danny Parker)
By MIKE BLACKERBY
The glaring spotlight was never too bright for Farragut’s Cameron Young.
Time and time again, the Lady Admirals’ senior third baseman came through in the clutch at the plate during Farragut’s high-profile run to the state Class AAA softball title.
Young, the 5Star Preps Offensive Player of the Year, was at her best on the biggest of stages:
- In a sectional elimination game against Tennessee High, Young’s triple in the sixth inning scored Ace Strickland and broke up a scoreless pitchers’ duel between Avery Flatford of Farragut and the Lady Vikings’ Rylee Fields. Young later scored on a sacrifice fly by Lauren Brakovec as the Lady Admirals prevailed 2-0 to advance to the state tournament.
- Young supplied the game-winning hit in Farragut’s state tournament opener against Dickson County. Her third inning homer gave the Lady Admirals a 2-1 lead. Farragut went on to post a 3-1 victory.
- Farragut trailed Coffee County 2-0 in the fifth inning in the state championship game when Young came through once again. Her two-run double down the left-field line tied the game and helped shift the momentum in Farragut’s favor. The Lady Admirals rallied to win 4-2 and claim their first state title in 39 years.
“Cameron has always had a way of being at her best when we needed her most,” said Farragut coach Nick Green.
“She tends to produce almost every time – that makes her an incredible player.”
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Young, who will play for East Tennessee State next year, batted .573 – second only to Ace Strickland’s school record .637 – and led the Lady Admirals in six offensive categories.
Young paced Farragut in hits (67), doubles (24), triples (5), RBIs (53), slugging percentage (.940) and total bases (110).
She struck out just twice all season, with both of the Ks coming in the state tournament.
“I was really pulling for her to go all season without striking out,” said Green.
Young approached every at bat with a cool confidence – especially when the stakes were the highest.
Failure was not an option.
“I knew it was time and my team needed it,” said Young of rising to the occasion.
“I just kind of knew that I could do it.”
Green said Young’s sterling senior season put an exclamation point on her career as a Farragut softball player and cemented her place in Lady Admirals history.
“She’s probably among the best two or three players to ever wear the Farragut uniform,” said Green.
Young said she has lots of great memories from her career, but the final out in the state championship game stands at the top of the list.
“It was that last pitch when Avery (Flatford) struck out the girl and everyone jumped on her back,” recounted Young.
“I was so excited. It was a great way to go out my senior year.”