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Jaelyn McDaniel knew that Monday’s Region 1-4A Softball Tournament game against Dobyns-Bennett was about to end.

In fact, West’s senior catcher was so confident that she packed up her catchers equipment knowing that she wouldn’t need it anymore.

And when McDaniel was given the opportunity to end the game herself, she took full advantage.

With a runner on second and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, McDaniel came through in the clutch with a single to left that scored Briony Bunsic from second to give West a 5-4 win in extra innings.

The win was Morristown West’s first region tournament win since 2009 and guarantees a spot in the Class 4A Sectionals.

“As soon as Aviah (Bunsic) moved Bri (Bunsic) to second, I knew it was over right there,” McDaniel said. “It’s great to have smart baserunners and smart coaches on both ends to know when to send baserunners and when to not. Briony’s a smart baserunner, she’s my best friend and a great pitcher. We work well together and to be able to work together there, it feels great.”

It was the type of game West coach Heather Kelley has come to expect out of her senior leader, as McDaniel knocked in three runs in the game and scored one. She also caught all nine innings and kept Bunsic composed in the circle.

For McDaniel, with the possibility of it being her final high school game, she knew she wasn’t ready for it to be over just yet.

“In the locker room, I had a little bit of a moment before the game,” McDaniel said. “I talked to all the girls and thanked them for my four years. You just have to be mentally prepared for both sides of it, but I am glad that we got to experience the winning side of it so that my season isn’t over yet.”

Another factor playing into Monday’s game for McDaniel and the rest of the team was how last season ended. Playing at home against D-B in the region semifinals, D-B got the best of the Lady Trojans and ended their season in 2022.

This time around, McDaniel wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again.

“The loss to them last year was hard,” McDaniel said. “To be on this side of it this year, it helps a lot. It shows that we didn’t come in scared from last year. We knew we could do it, and we did it.”

The rally in the ninth started as freshman Alexus Mullane singled. Mullane and Briony Bunsic traded places on the basepath after a fielder’s choice, and Briony moved to second on a flyout to right by Aviah Bunsic. That brought up McDaniel who delivered.

“We have to give God the glory because He has blessed these kids with a lot of talent,” Kelley said. “Just super proud of the girls. They’re a talented group and have done a good job. There were a lot of times we faced adversity tonight, but we stayed positive. It’s just a complete, team effort.

Alongside McDaniel was her battery mate in Briony Bunsic. Still battling a fractured finger on her pitching hand, Bunsic pitched all nine innings of Monday’s game. She gave up 11 hits and four runs but struck out nine, working her way out of trouble time and time again to keep the score tied in the late innings.

“Bri pitching with a broken finger and having to go extra innings,” Kelley said. “She didn’t want to tape it, it was too big of a game. But just her being able to do that.”

The game didn’t come without adversity for West, as the Lady Trojans led 4-0 heading to the sixth inning. However, D-B scored two in the sixth and then hit a game-tying home run in the seventh to make it 4-4.

Following the home run, Kelley had a meeting on the mound with her battery and infield. Following the meeting, Bunsic got the next two outs and then went 1-2-3 in both the eighth and ninth innings.

“Honestly, I didn’t have much to say,” Kelley said about the meeting. “Jaelyn got them together and whenever that happens, I step away and let them take charge. I can’t get in that batter’s box or on the mound, so it’s more important that they take charge. They did that, and I’m proud of them.”

At the plate, McDaniel and Kaylee Dyke led the way with two hits each. Dyke’s second hit of the game was a big one, a solo homer to left in the fifth inning that made it 4-0.

Along with those two, Briony Bunsic reached base three times while Mikaela Olodey had an RBI single.

Following two scoreless innings to start, West got on the board in the third with three runs. Briony Bunsic walked to start off the inning and then moved to third on an Aviah Bunsic single. That brought up McDaniel who drove them both in with a two-RBI double.

The scoring continued after Dyke singled and Milton walked, as Olodey slapped an RBI single to make it 3-0.

That’s where the score stood until the fifth when Dyke made it 4-0 with her solo homer. D-B rallied in the sixth and seventh to tie the game, but McDaniel came through in the ninth to end it.

“It sounds cliché, but I really thought (Jaelyn) would deliver,” Kelley said. “I have that much confidence in her. She’s a gamer and is so passionate. It couldn’t happen to a better kid. She is the heart and soul of this team.”

Kelley also gave credit to the parents, noting their efforts throughout their children’s softball careers.

“Honestly, this comes from the parents,” Kelley said. “The parents have poured so much time into these girls in playing, traveling and just making so many sacrifices as a family. It’s fun to see it come to fruition with everyone being involved. It’s a great set of parents that have done a great job with their kids.”

Morristown West now moves on to the Region 1-4A Championship game, scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at West. They will play the winner of Morristown East-Daniel Boone. The winner Wednesday’s region championship will host a Class 4A Sectional game against the loser of Heritage and Farragut, while the loser will travel to the winner of that game.

For McDaniel, while she now is guaranteed two more games, she’s not satisfied and wants to go all the way to the state tournament. Even if that means missing an important event next week.

“My mindset is that we have two games guaranteed, and I want to win them all,” McDaniel said. “I want to go to state. I don’t care about walking the stage at graduation. I just want to go to state with my girls.”