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Williams sisters face off on the softball diamond




Riverdale senior softball player Sydney Williams, right, and her Rockvale freshman Mallory Williams, played against each other on March 9. SUBMITTED

Riverdale senior softball player Sydney Williams, right, and her Rockvale freshman Mallory Williams, played against each other on March 9. SUBMITTED

They reside in the same house, but not the same dugout.

When Rockvale High School opened last August, rezoning resulted in some siblings going to different schools.

Two sisters — Riverdale senior Sydney Williams and Rockvale freshman Mallory Williams — headed in different directions.

Both are varsity softball players, meaning they were set to play against each other at least twice this season.

“I love going to Riverdale, love the coaches and all of that,” said Sydney, a Vol State signee. “I definitely wanted to be with my teammates my senior year.”

“I wanted to play with my sister and I could have maybe gone to Riverdale,” Mallory said. “But I didn’t want to be Sydney’s little sister so I went to Rockvale.”

Both sisters admit Mallory was always following her older sister around and wanting to do the same things even at an earlier age.

“I started pitching when I was younger and then she decided to pitch,” Sydney said. “She stuck with it and she’s come a long way. I decided it wasn’t for me. I just like being in the outfield (a four-year starter in center field) and seeing the whole field. It’s the one in charge of the outfield and I like having a big voice.”

Mallory actually played a different position initially, but the more she watched her sister pitch the more it pushed her to do the same.

“My sister used to be a pitcher and my parents asked if wanted to,” she said. “I started out being a catcher. Once I started watching her pitch, I wanted to pitch. I always to be with her and hang around her friends and all of that.”

On March 9, Rockvale traveled to Riverdale for both teams’ first district game of the season, with the Lady Warriors defeating the young Rockets squad 4-1.

“It was different, but it was fun,” Sydney said. “It was hard on the parents and family and even her being a freshman and being at a new school with a new team. It was a moment to remember.”

Mallory was on the mound and had to face her sister three times. She walked her once, coaxed a groundout to second and then fielded a come-backer and threw her out at first.

“It was a lot of fun,” Mallory said. “I really feel like most of my family was at the game. There was also a lot of pressure. It was like I didn’t want to disappoint my family. I pitched a really good game that day. It was really weird. I knew everyone on Riverdale’s team because I’d hung out with them.”

Sydney said she projects a bright future for her younger sister.

“She’s a worker, no doubt,” she said. “I see her working all the time and trying to get better. She’s always asking what to do to get better.”

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee called for schools to remained closed for the rest of the academic year, which signals the end of spring sports.

However, Sydney has college softball to look forward to and Mallory has three more years to play in high school.

“It’s heartbreaking because you work so hard in the preseason, but I mean you have to do what is right for everyone else,” Sydney said. “I’m thankful and blessed that I get to go play college ball.”

A season cut short due to the COVID-19 virus is certainly a disappointment, but the Williams sisters will always be able to look back fondly on what they said was the highlight of their season — the day they played against one another on their favorite playing field.

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