Murfreesboro Post
MURFREESBORO WEATHER

Siegel softball shuts out Dickson County 4-0 in state opener




Siegel senior Caitlyn McCrary remembers the disappointment of losing the Class AAA state championship to Dickson County in 2016.

And, perhaps just as painful, the 8-6 loss to Lincoln County in the Region 4-AAA semifinals last year, when Siegel carried a 32-2 record and expected to contend for a state title.

This season, the Lady Stars are on a revenge tour.

It started with a 2-1 victory over Lincoln County in the Region 4-AAA semifinals on May 13, and it continued in the Class AAA state tournament with a 4-0 shutout victory over Dickson County at Starplex Tuesday evening.

“It seems like we’re getting all the rematches,” McCrary said. “I think we got a little too confident [in 2018]. We needed to lose a few games to humble us, but we’ve got it now.”

Siegel junior and UAB commit Sophie Golliver tossed a complete-game one-hitter, and McCrary and fellow senior Hannah Milhorn each hit home runs to power the Lady Stars.

Junior Lacy Murphy managed Dickson County’s only hit, and the Lady Cougars had just four total baserunners.

Seniors Kaylee Triplett and Maggie Terrell are the lone holdovers from the 2016 championship team, and Dickson County coach Bert Newberry admitted that his younger players got “caught up in the moment” in their first state tournament game.

“I just don’t feel like our team came in as fired up as they should have been,” Newberry said. “We were a little bit big-eyed, and we didn’t do what we’ve done [earlier in the postseason].”

Milhorn’s homer to left field opened the scoring in the second, and McCrary drove in Lipscomb signee Presley Leebrick with a single in the third. McCrary later alertly stole home to make it 3-0 Siegel.

“She’s got a green light,” Siegel coach Shawn Middleton said. “She’s has that sixth sense, of ‘Hey, if that ball gets away, I’m going.’”

McCrary’s bomb in the in the fifth provided all the insurance the Lady Stars needed. Middleton said his team isn’t taking this year’s state appearance for granted after missing out on Murfreesboro last year.

“A lot of us came and watched [the state tournament], and it hurt to not be here,” Middleton said. “It’s tough, it’s real tough. It’s still on their minds, and they’re driven right now.”

Golliver fanned seven Dickson County hitters for her 31st victory of the season. Newberry said Dickson County simply couldn’t figure out her rise ball.

“She was obviously throwing something that we were very under,” Newberry said. “I think the last four batters popped balls up in the infield. We haven’t seen a lot of rise ball throwers all year.”

Siegel (40-7) advanced to play Springfield in the winner’s bracket Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., while Dickson County (22-18-1) fell to the loser’s bracket to face Hardin County at 10 a.m. Both games will be played at McKnight Park in Murfreesboro.

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