War Eagles now in full playoff flight
Austin Bowie next up as Oak Ridge keeps focus on state campaign
Oak Ridge is rolling now.
The young War Eagles softball team finished the regular season strong, only dropping one game in the second round, and now they’re moving on in the playoffs after ousting Montgomery last week.
Their 4-3 win sent them to the Class 6A Region II area round to face Austin Bowie.
“It was a huge win because I don’t think they had the confidence coming into the season, because they were worried about graduating so many, and we had struggled with finding leadership because everybody’s so new to the team and so young,” coach Amanda Brimberry said.
“It’s a team full of sophomores and a few juniors and seniors, so getting that playoff win, you can see a little bit more confidence, and you can see they’re a little bit more relaxed.”
Oak Ridge and Bowie collide in another oneg-amer at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Oak Ridge.
The War Eagles entered the playoffs as the third seed from District 16-6A, finishing 9-3.
They lost both games to Kingwood but beat Atascocita 8-5 in the second round, avenging their earlier 8-3 setback.
Sophomore Autumn Sydlik supplied a key home run and combined with sophomore Carlie Darnell in the circle.
They kept the Eagles off-balance, and Darnell earned the win in relief.
“We didn’t give up,” Brimberry said. “We were down at first. We were down 3-0, and our bats were the key. We punched the ball in places where we needed it, we had some key hits that came through, and then, again, just having that confidence build throughout the game, and the momentum.”
The War Eagles came from behind to beat The Woodlands 3-2 in eight innings in their district finale.
Sydlik singled to start the eighth, moved to second on a bunt, to third on a wild pitch, and scored on sophomore Haley Nillen’s single.
“They were excited,” Brimberry said.
“We were down going into the top of the seventh, so we had to score at least the tying run, andwe tied it upin the seventh and in the eighth we came through. And then our defense was just solid.
“(Sophomore) Aiyana Freeney made a fabulous catch in center field, a diving catch, to keep them from getting on the base or scoring that inning to finish it.”
That finish sent them into the postseason with a ton of confidence, despite their youth.
“Our defense has been playing really soundly, so the pitchers can be a little more at ease in the circle, because they know they have solid defense behind them,” Brimberry said. “And hopefully we’re peaking at the right time.
“It’s all about when you hit your peak.”
It’s also about experience, and the War Eagles know how to finish.
After coming from behind to beat Atascocita and The Woodlands, they picked up a 4-3 walk-off win against Montgomery.
“That did help us a lot,” Brimberry said.
“It seems like this group of girls doesn’t get rattled at the end. They have a little bit of an ease about them when we’re in a situation where we’re behind.
“They don’t press, and so that’s been key for these come-from-behind wins.”
Freeney tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the seventh, when the Bears tried to intentionally walk a batter to load the bases.
“It was just a little tip to the side,” Brimberry said. “It was a quick bam-bam, so she had to get a good jump and hustle in there.”
The one-game playoff wasn’t Brimberry’s choice, and this week’s wasn’t either.
The coach lost both flips, forcing her young players to perform under intense pressure, with no second chances.
But they are at home, and they’ve proven they can handle themselves anywhere.
“We’re going into this game blindly,” Brimberry said. “I just have to rely on the talent that we have and the defense that we have, and just doing our part and not so much worrying about what (Bowie) will or won’t do, and just play our game.”