Mason walk-off HR lifts MJ past WC in 8

MT. JULIET — Caroline Mason broke up a pitcher's duel with a two-run, walk-off homer in the eighth inning off Leevie Greenwood, handing Mt. Juliet and Kenzie Roark a 2-0 triumph over Wilson Central in the Lady Bears' regular-season finale Tuesday night at MJ League Park.
Mason followed Megan Matthews' leadoff single with her drive which gave Mt. Juliet the No. 2 seed for the District 9-AAA tournament with a 10-2 record. The 35-8 Lady Bears will play at home at 4 p.m. Friday with Gallatin expected to provide the opposition in the opener of the league tournament.
Central slipped to 9-3 and No. 3 in the district. After the 24-10 Lady Wildcats host Oakland at 5 p.m. today, they will await a visit from probably Smyrna at 5 p.m. Friday with the winners and losers to hook up Monday when the double-elimination tournament moves to Central.
"We played very well," Lady Wildcat coach Ashley Putman-Serbin said. "You hate to see anyone lose the game tonight but it gives us a lot of confidence going into the district tournament."
Mt. Juliet coach Kacey Pedigo hopes the game gives her Lady Bears a wakeup call.
"Mentally, we got to be prepared each [game]," Pedigo said. "Not to take anything away from Leevie. Leevie did a great job pitching tonight. [We lost our focus, but] we got back under it and took care of business."
Roark, who pitched a one-hit shutout at Central nearly a month ago, gave up singles to Caitlyn Bailey and Jessica Faircloth. She walked one and struck out 13 in eight innings.
Greenwood surrendered four hits and two walks while striking out six in seven innings-plus.
Mason and Bijan Stegall added singles for Mt. Juliet.
Central will have to go the rest of the way without senior catcher Sara Williams. The Western Kentucky-signee underwent back surgery Friday and faces three months of recovery.
"She had trouble during basketball, too," Putman-Serbin said. "They said before she had some nerve damage they needed to have the surgery since it was a three-month recovery."
Sophomore Kristen Madewell took over behind the plate for Central last night.
"She did a very nice job for us tonight," Putman-Serbin said of Madewell.

Devilettes seal No. 2 seed with 2-1 win over Siegel
MURFREESBORO — Lebanon is entering the District 7-AAA tournament as the No. 2 seed. More importantly, the Devilettes go into the postseason on a roll.
The Devilettes overtook Siegel 2-1 Tuesday night to clinch the No. 2 seed and knock the Stars to No. 4 for the tournament which begins Friday at Oakland. Siegel needed a win to force a coin toss with Lebanon for No. 2. As it is, the Stars fall to fourth and into the bracket with No. 1 Riverdale with Blackman pushed up to No. 3.
"We got behind early," Lebanon coach Brad Rowlett said after his Devilettes concluded a 26-13 regular season and 9-3 in the district. "There wasn't a lot of pressure on us and we knew it. I don't know if they played tight or tense. But they played with more outward intensity. We played much calmer. We played a good, sound softball game."
Siegel scored an unearned run in the first inning against Meghan Maynard, who held the Stars to six hits and no walks while striking out eight.
The Devilettes scored their runs in the fifth with the bottom of the order lighting the fuse. No. 8 hitter Jordan Freeman hit a leadoff double down the left-field line and No. 9 batter Kenzie Fish singled to center to put runners at the corners. Lacey Doak's fielder's choice morved Fish to second. One out later, Missy Roberts ripped a two-run, two-out double down the left-field line.
Maynard took care of the rest.
"When she's ahead in he count, she's really effective," Rowlett said. "She was in complete control, especially after we got the 2-1 lead.
"We played good defense even though we made two errors."
Rowlett also talked about how the Devilettes have come together after losing seven seniors from last year's team.
"The girls have really bought into what we're doing," Rowlett said. "The team chemistry is really good.
"We've got 19 girls pulling together."
Lebanon will play either Cookeville or Warren County at either 6 or 8 p.m. Friday in Murfreesboro.

Watertown's Reeder shuts out Class AAA White County 6-0
WATERTOWN — Watertown enters the District 8-A tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Tigerettes might have a halfway decent seed if they played in 7-AAA after beating White County for the second time this season 6-0 Tuesday at Three Forks Park.
Junior Sarah Reeder held the Warriorettes to three hits and a walk while striking out eight as Watertown finished a 15-14 regular season.
The Tigerettes scored three runs in the fourth and matched it in the fifth behind the clutch hitting of Sara Patchen and Katie Drown. Patchen singled home a score in the fourth and two in the fifth. Drown drilled an RBI triple in the fourth and a run-scoring double in the fifth.
Reeder and Laura Clark also collected two hits each and Olivia Hall one.
Watertown will play at 6 p.m. Monday in the double-elimination round of the tournament at Friendship Christian against the winner of Friday's game between Mt. Juliet Christian and Gordonsville.

Lady Saints hold off Metro to win regular season finale, face Gordonsville in 8-A tournament Friday
MADISON — Mt. Juliet Christian held off a last-inning comeback by host Metro Christian to cling to an 11-10 regular season-ending triumph Tuesday.
The Lady Saints jumped to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first and maintained the lead until Metro made the late run as Mt. Juliet Christian concluded a 7-16 regular season.
Paige Hudson went the distance to pick up her first win of the year. She allowed 10 hits and three walks while striking out 10.
Mt. Juliet Christian collected seven hits, including two singles by Danielle Adkisson. Hannah Staggs tripled while Caitlin Hammer reached on a bunt single and Kelly Adkisson and Cali Beard singled.
The Lady Saints committed six errors to Metro's four.
Mt. Juliet Christian is the No. 6 seed for the District 8-A tournament and will face No. 3 Gordonsville on Friday at Friendship Christian. The winner will catch No. 2 Watertown at 6 p.m. Monday. Trousdale County will take on Westmoreland in the other Friday game with the winner taking on Friendship at 4 p.m. Monday.