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BY DREW COOK
MURFREESBORO — Farragut’s quest for their third consecutive state title fell short Wednesday evening, falling to Henry County in extra innings 8-6.
The Lady Admirals came from behind to tie the game in the sixth and again seventh inning.
They had the tying run at bat in the eighth, but grounded out to end the game.
“Defined our season right there… no quit, determined, play ‘til the last strike,” Farragut softball coach Nick Green said. “We didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but they competed. They competed hard the whole time.
“I told them this is what sports is all about – competing gets you ready for your life. Learning to work hard, and understand that even though you work your butt off, things don’t always go the way you want them to go.”
Farragut (33-7) found a way to keep its season alive earlier Wednesday in a 4-3 win over Coffee County in an elimination game.
But against Henry County (29-6), it couldn’t get the offense going early.
Hitting became contagious in the fifth, though.
Elsa Morrison and Anna French had RBI singles in the inning to trim the Henry County lead to 4-2.
After one crossed for Henry County in the top half of the sixth, Farragut’s Rilee Kate Ragan left the yard with a solo homer. Three batters later, Morrison found the left center gap for a two-run-double to tie the game at 5-all.
In the seventh, Henry County added one in the top half, pushing Farragut to their last three outs.
Hailey Nichols delivered a two-out solo shot to send the game to extras.
Henry County responded with a two-run-blast to take the 8-6 lead in the eighth, and that ultimately ended Farragut’s season.
“We played hard and that’s all we can expect out of them,” Green said. “I am proud of them. I don’t think a lot of people picked us to go this far this year after graduating those six seniors from last year, so I’m just proud of them.”
Addison Pressley and Morrison hit 1 and 2 in the lineup and embodied that 1-2 punch with three hits apiece. Morrison had three runs batted in, and Pressley scored a pair of runs.
Nichols was productive in many ways for the Lady Admirals. Along with her clutch home run in the seventh, she had a single and a walk. Defensively, Nichols had several nice plays at first base.
Getting shut out through four and a half innings, the Lady Admirals could have given up.
But they rallied, and the team’s chemistry certainly gave them momentum to keep fighting.
“They’re special kids. They enjoy being around each other,” Green said. “They genuinely care for each other, and it makes a huge difference. They want everybody to succeed – cheering for your teammates to be the best they can be, it’s going to make the team succeed.
“I love every one of them. They’re really, really good kids that happen to be really, really good softball players. I’m proud of them.”