CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – In what was their 40th game played so far in the 2021 season, Clarksville High softball earned its 38th victory Friday after defeating Springfield 10-5 at home to capture the District 10-AAA championship.
FINAL@GoCHSSoftball (38-1-1) 10@SpringfieldSof1 (23-9-1) 5
Gracelyn Woolen goes 4-for-4 while Kate Cotton drives in a team-high three runs to help the Wildcats win the District 10-AAA title. pic.twitter.com/vGaZHQJ4Wt
— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 15, 2021
All night long, the Wildcats were disciplined at the plate. CHS’s hitters showed a great two-strike approach, helping to manufacture offense when the chips were down.
“I saw a lot of kids that were not going to give in to an easy out,” said Clarksville softball coach Brian Rush. “Skylar (Hayes) twice was just up there fouling off pitches. She came through when we needed her to. I just thought the girls’ heart was on full display tonight.”
Despite their dominance to this point in the year, Rush is not letting his team get complacent or overlook their opposition moving forward.
“I don’t know if there is a tougher district in the state,” Rush said. “Henry County, Montgomery Central, Springfield, all us all deserve to be here. We’ve been through wars with every one of those other teams, so we feel like we’re ready.”
Game summary
Springfield jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning on an RBI single from Victoria Clark.
Clarksville starting pitcher Sydney Weatherford then retired the next two batters in order to avoid any further damage.
https://twitter.com/NryeCvilleNow/status/1393336457599803397?s=20
In the bottom of the second inning, Skylar Hayes plated Emberly Nichols before Kate Cotton drove in the go-ahead run for the Wildcats.
Bottom of the 2nd@GoCHSSoftball has taken a 2-1 lead, as Kate Cotton drives home the go-ahead run. pic.twitter.com/oDsg5oP6cb
— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 14, 2021
Later in the frame, Macy Brown extended CHS’s lead to 3-1 on a base hit up the middle.
Bottom of the 2nd@GoCHSSoftball extends its lead to 3-1 after Macy Brown laces one up the middle with a textbook two-strike approach. A new pitcher will take over in the circle for @SpringfieldSof1 with two runners in scoring position and two down in the inning. pic.twitter.com/yQEstvtUBc
— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 14, 2021
Clarksville scratched across two more runs in the bottom-half of the third inning, scoring on an RBI infield-single and wild pitch.
Bottom of the 3rd
This is scored an RBI infield-single, as @GoCHSSoftball pads it’s lead to 4-1. pic.twitter.com/Fp1rdMnlEQ— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 14, 2021
Weatherford helped herself at the plate the following inning with a line shot back where it was pitched to make it a 6-1 advantage.
Bottom of the 4th
Weatherford helps herself and makes its 6-1 @GoCHSSoftball on this base hit up the middle. pic.twitter.com/xem6EcZPJ0— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 14, 2021
In the top of the fifth inning, Springfield cut the deficit in half after an RBI single from Brianna Asmondy and a sacrifice fly from Clark.
Top of the 5th
After a two-run double by Brianna Asmondy was wiped off the board, the junior then lines one through the hole to bring home a run for @SpringfieldSof1. pic.twitter.com/WRQ155CbmS— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 15, 2021
Wildcat senior Gracelyn Woolen recorded her fourth hit of the contest in the bottom of the fifth inning to build the lead to 7-3.
End of the 5th@GoCHSSoftball 7@SpringfieldSof1 3
Senior Gracelyn Woolen gives the Wildcats a four-run lead on her fourth hit of the night. pic.twitter.com/HVQX07WVzp
— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 15, 2021
“Elvis (Woolen), that’s what we call her, was making hits,” Rush said. “She was on tonight.”
Springfield did not go away lightly, striking twice in the top of the sixth inning to pull within two runs.
Middle of the 6th@SpringfieldSof1 gets another run home and trails 7-5, heading to the bottom of the inning. pic.twitter.com/d6yoaoPUd7
— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) May 15, 2021
Clarksville then responded with three runs in the home-half of the frame to cap things off.
Key performers
Weatherford went the distance for the win, allowing four earned runs on nine hits while striking out three Yellowjackets.
“She pitched great,” Rush said. “I think to the common observer, she didn’t have her best stuff, but they had their best bats going tonight. She’s pitched three of our five games against them, so I think they’ve gotten used to her and it really became a chess match throughout the night.”
Wooten went 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored while Cotton finished 3-for-4 with a team-high three runs driven in.
“That’s what’s beautiful about this team,” Rush said. “Different people step up every night. Kate had three RBIs, which were huge.”
Elizabeth Friedmann, Brianna Asmondy and Sarah Nicholson had two hits each for the Yellowjackets.
Up next
Clarksville (38-1-1) will open up region-tournament play Monday, May 17, at home.
“Monday is going to be a big game,” Rush said. “It’s an elimination game. I think we’re playing Beech and I think we’re going to do 7 p.m. I’ve got to discuss it with Beech and really with Mother Nature to see what the weather is going to be. That determines a whole lot of what we’ll do.”
Springfield (23-9-1) will go on the road Monday, May 17, looking to keep their season alive.