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RUTLEDGE – A successful season for the Grainger Lady Grizzlies came to an end Monday evening as they lost to Tennessee High 6-1 in the regional softball tournament.

“I’m so proud of this group because no one thought we would be here. This group has set the standard,” first year head coach Ben Williford said after his team completed a 17-13 campaign in his first year as the Lady Grizzlies’ skipper. Williford said his team responded to what was both asked and expected of them. “They bought in and really wanted it for each other. I could tell the bonding that got better as the season went along and we had some big upset wins this year. If we continue to come together and play as a team, we will be alright.”

The first four innings was a pitchers duel between Lady Viking hurler Rylee Fields and Grainger’s Alison Byrd. Tennessee High appeared ready to do damage early as they loaded the bases in the top of the first inning but Byrd didn’t allow any runs to come home. The game was scoreless until the fifth when Abby Haga connected on a two-out solo homerun. “Alison Byrd kept them on their toes all night long because we knew coming in Tennessee High was a good hitting team,” Williford said. “We did our research on them and we kept them off balance for five innings and we had a bunch of offensive opportunities but we couldn’t get anyone in early on.”

The Lady Vikings broke things open in the sixth inning as they scored five runs, the biggest play being a two-run homer by Ashley Worley. Grainger avoided the shutout when Jaylee Hayes singled in the sixth, stole second and later scored on an error in the Tennessee High outfield. But that was as close as the home team could get in the 6-1 setback.

The 2023 team has set a high standard at Grainger for future teams to live up to but Williford said that is indicative of the program is he trying to build in Rutledge. “I expect to win, that’s just the kind of guy I am. If you are going to play for me, you are going to work your tail off. We need to be ready to come back ready to go because I fully expect to be in this same spot next year and to go further.”