HUNTER COOKSTON
Writer
With a huge win over regular-season District Champion Sequatchie County last week, Marion County softball punched their ticket to the District Tournament Championship. All the Lady Warriors needed was one win in two games. Game one against Bledsoe County didn’t go as planned, but in game two, Marion County pulled off a thrilling 7–6 victory to become District Champions.
The game began as a pitcher’s duel through the first three innings. In the fourth, the Lady Warriors struck first, capitalizing on an error to take the lead. They followed up in the fifth with a three-run burst to extend the lead to 4–0. Kaylee McGowan doubled on a line drive past the left fielder, driving in two runs. Emma McCallie then hit a fly ball to center field that was dropped, allowing McGowan to score and McCallie to reach second.
Bledsoe County responded in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game. But the Lady Warriors ignited a two-out rally in the top of the sixth. After the first two batters were retired, Brynna Thomasson singled, followed by a base hit from Reese Saylors. McGowan then ripped a single down the line to score one, and McCallie came through again with a double, driving in both Saylors and McGowan. Bledsoe made it close late, cutting the lead to just one run, but McCallie shut the door in the circle to seal the win.
Thomasson started in the circle for the Lady Warriors, throwing 4⅔ innings with seven strikeouts and allowing four runs—all unearned. McCallie came on in relief, pitching 2⅓ innings, striking out three, and allowing two runs (one earned). Both pitchers delivered when it mattered, and the bats backed them up.
Saylors and McGowan each had three hits, while Thomasson added two of her own. All in all, it was a complete team effort—and now, the Lady Warriors proudly call themselves 2025 District Champions.
Marion County will be back in action in the first round of Region play, which they will host at home.
