The Karate Kid

Burgess Blast lifts Lady Tornadoes into sectionals

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

Solid on defense, speed on the bases for days, and they can hit for power.

Grayson Burgess lifted a moonshot into the concession stand area behind left field, the three-run blast run-ruling Soddy-Daisy, 13-1, in five innings in the Region 3AAA championship game on Wednesday at Dawn Marsh Field.

The win moves Alcoa (37-2) on to Saturday’s sectional round, where the Lady Tornadoes will host Watertown for the right to advance to next week’s Spring Fling state tournament in Murfreesboro.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

The Burgess blast, collecting Halle Bailey and Daja Casby to close it out, came on an afternoon the Lady Tornadoes put the full arsenal on display.

“I was looking for an outside pitch,” said Burgess, who broke out the crane pose made famous in “The Karate Kid” movies upon reaching her waiting teammates at home plate. “When I’m looking for an outside pitch, I tell myself if I see that inside pitch, turn on it.

“She threw me inside, and it worked.”

Burgress, who also singled and doubled her way aboard, finished a triple short of the cycle. Bailey, 2-for-2, reached in all three plate appearances, a lead-off walk putting her aboard in the Lady Tornado first. The Tennessee signee threw in a pair of stolen bases for good measure.

Catcher Tori Hahn finished a perfect 3-for-3 on the day, Jayde Deal 2-for-3, including a two-run double in the Alcoa fourth to put Soddy-Daisy within striking distance of the run rule.

Senior right-hander Kaylea Osborne twirled a two-hit gem for the Lady Tornadoes in the pitching circle. The UT-Martin signee retired seven Lady Trojans by strikeout.

After a modest 1-0 lead through two, Alcoa broke it open with a six-run third.

“We want to come out and score in the first inning,” Alcoa coach Sarah Bailey said. “We didn’t do that, but that just transfers over into the second inning.

“My message was, ‘Hey, we’re keeping our foot on the gas. Stay focused, and let’s finish this ball game.'”