Silverdale in state with 1-0 victory

Silverdale Baptist Academy's Katie Henderson has especially given her team a lift since the TSSAA softball postseason started, but the senior right-hander did perhaps her most heavy lifting Saturday in Lebanon.

Henderson kept Friendship Christian's offense completely in check for six innings waiting on a run, which she got with the Lady Seahawks down to their last strike in the seventh, then went out and finished off their 1-0 victory in the Class A state sectional.

Silverdale (19-14) advances to the state tournament at Murfreesboro.

Henderson pitched a two-hitter with no walks. Silverdale coach Tim Couch said shortstop Bri Leffew made a great catch for the first out in the bottom of the seventh before Henderson closed it out with the last two of her 14 strikeouts.

"It wasn't a line drive," Couch said of the ball Leffew caught, "but it's something that could've fallen and got a runner on and given them life. They really hadn't manufactured anything."

Michaela Harrison had singled in the top of the inning and although there was one out, Couch had his daughter, Katelyn, sacrifice. Savannah Clay was then hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, bringing up leadoff batter Allison Meadows, who singled in Harrison.

East Ridge run ends

After coming into the District 6-AA tournament as the No. 4-seeded team, East Ridge didn't end its postseason run until Saturday's 10-0 loss in five innings in a Class AA sectional at Baxter.

The Lady Bees (29-7) controlled the game from the start, scoring two runs in the first inning, three in the second and four in the third. They tallied their last run in the fifth when Olivia Gore drove a pitch to deep right-center, invoking the mercy rule.

East Ridge (15-23) struggled to get anything going offensively, striking out six times and not advancing any runners past second base against Upperman left-hander Kristen Hull.

Ashley Irvin for the Lady Pioneers gave up 13 hits, two walks and a hit batter while striking out three.

Hull allowed four hits and a walk for Upperman, the District 8 and Region 4 champion.

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