By Carten Cordell
Marietta Daily Journal Sports Writer
WOODSTOCK - Kennesaw Mountnain's run in the 18th Annual Cherokee Softball Invitational wasn't completely perfect, but it was close.
The Class AAAAA No. 3 Lady Mustangs only allowed one run in a 6-0 run to the title game, blanking Class AAAA No. 4 Sequoyah 13-0 for the championship at Twin Creeks Softball Complex.
"Our kids played real well," Sequoyah coach Todd Morrissey said. "I expected to be in the finals and I expected to see good teams, but Kennesaw Mountain is really good, they are exceptional. I mean that is the best high school team I have ever seen in coaching 30 years of coaching high school softball."
The Lady Mustangs outscored opponents 60-1 over the two-day tournament, giving up one run to Dade County earlier in the bracket, and added Sequoyah to a list of teams that included Blessed Trinity, Dalton, Sprayberry, Dade County and Marist that it topped over the weekend.
After losing to semifinalist Marist 2-1 in the first round, Sequoyah rebounded with wins over Chestatee, Ringgold, Ridgeland and Eastland en route to the title game.
Kennesaw Mountain didn't waste time getting on the board, as Jennifer Fenton got on base with a bunt and stole second before a single from Ashley Pauly scored the senior to make it 1-0 in the bottom of the first.
The Lady Mustangs would put two more on the board before the end of the inning to make it 3-0. After a three-up, three-down inning for Sequoyah, Kennesaw got back on the board with a triple from Fenton to right field and a subsequent single from Pauly scoring her.
Three batters later, Erin O'Shea brought home Pauly with her single to right after Pauly stole second earlier in the inning, making the count 5-0.
Sequoyah managed one hit over the next two innings and couldn't stem the tide of runs the Lady Mustangs brought in, despite holding three opponents to two total runs Saturday.
Kennesaw Mountain loaded the bases in the third and Pauly's triple scored three, while a sacrifice Tatum Vanloan scored Pauly.
The Lady Mustangs loaded the bases again and inning later, with Fenton's popup scoring a runner and Pauly's second triple, to mark a 4-4 performance, scored two more to make it 13-0.
Kennesaw Mountain's Brittany Lundgren grabbed the win with eight strikeouts.
"I am proud of two things," Lady Mustangs coach Lisa Chapman said. "First off, our pitcher only gave up one run all weekend in six games and top to bottom, one through nine, we are hitting the ball. They are just jumping on pitchers and they are facing good ones. We are just being aggressive and putting the ball in play."
Comment on this Story
Posted Comments