Hortenstine, Blair key West Ridge to District 1-4A play-in victory over 'Canes

BLOUNTVILLE — West Ridge has left no doubt they had Morristown East's number on the softball diamond this season. The weather simply delayed the inevitable in the third meeting between the clubs. Katherine Hortenstine's grand slam highlighted an eight-run first inning as West Ridge dominated the struggling Hurricanes with an 18-0 rain-delayed District 1-4A play-in game victory on a rainy Wednesday evening in Blountville. Originally slated to begin at 5 p.m., the game was pushed back an hour to avoid more rain, but the rain came anyhow. A couple of more downpours dampened the field, leading to a one hour and 33 minute delay, with the first pitch finally thrown at 7:33 p.m. "Bless their heart. The field was in great shape before, but as soon as they pulled in it started. We had to play on it too. It is what it is," said West Ridge head coach Eddie Spriggs, who hopes for better weather for the next round of games on Thursday. "We got it the best we could and everybody deemed it playable. "We will get it in better shape tomorrow. We will get here early in the morning and get it done. It will be good and ready for tomorrow." West Ridge (20-15), which defeated the Hurricanes 13-0 and 22-0 during the regular season, earned the right to play top-seeded Science Hill on Thursday in Blountville at 5 p.m. The Hilltoppers defeated the Wolves twice this season, 7-0, and 3-1. That game will be followed by Dobyns-Bennett and Morristown West. "They kind of got away from us that first time when we played them here and it seems like they beat us 7-0 and over there was 3-1," Spriggs said. "Zoey (Blair) had nine up and nine down and they had a little leadoff hitter in the fourth and got a bunt and got it started. They scored a couple and beat us 3-1. "We played them good, it is about time to break through sometimes." Don't count out the Wolves on Thursday. Hortenstine definitely has the right attitude. "I think we are going to have to push really hard and go in with the mindset that we can beat them because a negative mindset will never get you a positive outcome," Hortenstine said. "I think we are just going to have to go out thinking we can beat them and we can win." Lost in the excitement of 18 runs, 12 hits, nine walks, five doubles and Hortenstine's grand slam was Blair throwing a perfect three innings in the circle, retiring all nine batters she faced. She struck out two and got some terrific defensive support, especially from shortstop Nila Horne. "She threw a perfect game in three innings," Spriggs said. "They hit some balls hard and Lila made some good plays right there." While West Ridge had four hits, including Hortenstein's grand slam in the first, the Wolves got help, as the Morristown East starter walked six, hit a batter and the Wolves also took advantage of a pair of errors to build that 8-0 lead. Hortenstine, who homered in West Ridge's previous game against Unaka last week, clobbered a long grand slam over the left field fence to put the Wolves up, 7-0, at the time. "That was my second home run. I am usually not really a home run hitter. This is really big for me this season," said Hortenstine, who had two hits, scored twice and drove in four runs. "Last game I hit another home run on the first pitch of my first at-bat. I came out with this at-bat, which is so exciting and I am so excited that I could do that for my team and I am just so thankful to play this sport." Spriggs approached Hortenstine prior to the at-bat with a word of advice. She may have called that grand slam, which was made even more difficult by the control problems from Hamilton, who had walked three of the four previous batters. "She came through big the other day against Unaka and then she hit a bomb in that first at-bat. She has been hitting pretty good," Spriggs said. "It is tough. I walked up there and said you have first, second and third and she said, 'Grand slam'? I just get us a base hit, hit it on the ground somewhere and she hit a bomb." "I just had my feet on the line hoping that I could just get a hit," she said. Hortenstine was greeted at home plate by the happy herd of Wolves. "It is so exciting, I love it, and all my teammates," she said. "They are just so encouraging and just there for everyone and they play for everyone, not just themselves." Hortenstine's stepfather observed from the press box and got a heads-up from his daughter. "He is my biggest supporter, I love him to death," she said. "He encourages me every day." West Ridge sent 12 batters to the plate in the second, scoring eight more runs, keyed by a three-run double by Horne and a two-run single from Miranda Henley. Horne had three doubles, a single, drove in four runs and scored twice for the Wolves from the top spot in the lineup. "We put her in the leadoff spot early in the year and she just took off," Spriggs said. "We go as she goes pretty much. She is a player." Henley also drove in four runs, while Emma Wilson scored three runs for the Wolves, which had six different batters score two runs apiece. While Morristown East's season came to an end, the Wolves earned the right to play on in the double elimination tournament that will continue through next Tuesday. "I am so excited to keep playing and seeing what we can do tomorrow," Hortenstine said. "I am so glad."