GALLATIN, TN -- Special.
That's the word Larry Sauceman used when describing his softball team and the season they're having.
And now, that season has the chance to get a lot more special for Sauceman and the Lady Senators.
Taking on No. 13 Chattanooga State in the Region 7/TCCAA Championship game on Friday evening, the fourth-ranked Lady Senators did what they do best as they picked up timely hits and got a phenomenal outing from Tori Coffman in the circle on their way to a 7-3 victory.
With the win, Walters State improved to 52-2 on the season and punched their ticket to the NJCAA DI Softball World Series for the first time since 2018 and the fourth time in program history.
"These girls are special," Sauceman said. "They're a special group. They come to practice, games and no problem. I haven't heard a peep out of them all year. The record speaks for itself. That's all you can ask for.
"The chemistry is why they're so good. It's unbelievable. That's what it's all about. It's about the team. I can't say enough. It's just fabulous."
The special nature of the season starts with No. 24 in the circle. Just a freshman, Coffman has been near perfect every time she has stepped on the field. On Friday, Coffman improved to 30-1 on the season with the win. She pitched all seven innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out 10.
For her efforts all week, she was named the tournament MVP.
"We have a great team, and I know they have my back," Coffman said. "That gives me great confidence every time I step in the circle. I know that they're going to hit it and play defense behind me.
"Going into this game I was really nervous; Chattanooga has a great team. I just knew I needed to go in and stay calm and do what I do."
However, while it starts with Coffman, the special part of the Lady Senators team continues with the lineup. On Friday, the Lady Senators collected just five hits but got them when they needed them the most.
Those timely hits started in the second inning as Tatum Dye smacked a two-run homer over the fence. Halle Laramie was next up and she made it 3-0 with back-to-back homers.
The Lady Senators hit one more homer in the game as Ava Brooks smacked one out in the fifth to make it 4-1.
"That's what we have done all season," Sauceman said. "Tatum (Dye) struggles during the week but comes back with a home run to get us on the board. She's done that several times this year. We just knew we wanted this game. They set out that this is what we wanted to do. Ava and Halle had huge home runs too."
However, the biggest hit of them all came in the sixth inning. After Chatt State cut the lead to 4-3 with a two-run bomb in the top of the inning, the Lady Senators loaded the bases with two outs for Abigail Taylor. Normally a slap hitter, Sauceman let Taylor hit away. Taylor rewarded her coach by smashing a ball to center field that went for a triple and scored all three runs to make it 7-3.
"Just a huge hit," Sauceman said. "I turned her loose and she hits a bullet and we get three runs."
Following Taylor's triple, Coffman calmly entered the circle and did what she has done all season by setting the Tigers down 1-2-3. The final out came on a strikeout, her 274th of the season.
"It was amazing," Coffman said. "She swung at the first pitch, and I knew it was over. It was just so great."
Up Next:
Walters State will be back in action for the 2023 NJCAA DI Softball World Series in Oxford, AL from May 23-27.
While the Lady Senators are happy with the region championship, they know there is still work to be done when they get to Alabama.
"We just need to go into the tournament like we did this past game with our heads on straight," Coffman said. "We have to be hitting, playing good defense and stay composed and compete."
"They're on a high right now, but they'll go to Alabama and play their game," Sauceman added. "The pressure is off. Now, they get to go and just play their game."
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics