REGION 1D SOFTBALL: Rye Cove, Eastside to meet in finals, fifth meeting this season between foes (2024)

WISE, Va. – Rye Cove Eagles pitcher Eden Muncy encountered some tense moments in Monday’s Region 1D softball semifinals, but the senior right-hander stuck to her motto.

“You’ve just got to breathe,” Muncy said.

That bottom-line approach helped Muncy and the Eagles pull out a 3-2 victory over the Twin Springs Titans before an overflow crowd at the University of Virginia's College at Wise.

How clutch was the latest performance by the East Tennessee State signee?

In the circle, she stuck out 10, walked just one and worked out of several jams.

“I’ve been in similar situations many times in travel ball and high school,” Muncy said. “It’s all about staying in control of yourself and blocking out the nerves.”

On offense, Muncy delivered two line singles and a ground-rule double.

The last hit for Muncy was a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

After advancing to third on a passed ball and wild pitch, Muncy delighted the Rye Cove fans when she scored on a single up the middle by King University recruit Gracie Turner.

Game over.

“I was looking for a change-up or rise ball, but I saw a fastball right down the middle and I was able to make good contact,” Turner said. “This was a tense one, but we pulled through and the experience will prepare us for what’s down the road.”

Turner finished with two hits, while Montana Dillowe added a single.

Rye Cove Nick Hood wasn’t surprised that the Scott County showdown was loaded with drama.

“It’s always an intense rivalry when we play Twin Springs,” Hood said. “We had three seniors come through with big hits. And Eden just has nerves of steel.”

Twin Springs (10-13) opened the game in style as leadoff batter Bella Guevara blasted a triple on the first pitch and Sarah Davidson followed with a run-scoring single.

Behind the steady work of sophom*ore pitcher MaKenzie Gillenwater, the Titans held a 1-0 lead until the fifth inning when Rye Cove senior cleanup hitter Maddy Wood delivered one of the biggest hits in her prep career.

After fouling off two quality pitches, Wood singled to score two runs.

Twin Springs forced a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning when Lexi Lane doubled and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

With fans from both schools buzzing, the stage was set for Turner’s scrapbook worthy single.

Gillenwater, who was effective with a rise ball and movement, struck out six en route to a seven-hitter. She entered the game with 181 strikeouts.

Lane paced the Titans offense with a triple and double, while Guevera contributed two singles.

“We made good contact, but we just couldn’t get a timely hit when we had runners on,” Twin Springs coach Mark McCracken said.

Twin Springs had no seniors and just two juniors on its roster.

“I’m proud of what we accomplished this season,” McCracken said. “We knew what we were capable of, and I think we exceeded what other people thought we could do.”

Meanwhile, Wednesday’s Region 1D title game will have a familiar feel for the 21-3 Eagles.

“We’ve got Eastside for the umpteenth time this season,” Hood said. “We just have to put the ball in play better this time out.

“We’ve made the elite eight in the state for the second year in a row, and that’s big for a small school like we have.”

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Gillenwater and Meade. Muncy and Turner. W-Muncy. L-Gillenwater. HR-none.

Eastside 9, Honaker 0

One of the most effective pitches in far Southwest Virginia was on display in the opening game.

Relying on a wicked change-up, Eastside junior Braelyn Hall dominated as the Spartans rolled over the Honaker Tigers.

Hall recorded 14 strikeouts, walked one and allowed just an infield single in the seventh inning.

“I was in a little slump earlier this season, but today I felt really good out there,” Hall said. “I just threw and trusted my teammates.”

The Spartans (24-1) awarded Hall with a cushion by opening a 7-0 lead through three innings.

“That type of run support gave me comfort and confidence to throw every pitch that I can,” Hall said.

Hall has an arsenal of six pitches, with a focus on spin and location.

What about the near no-hitter?

“I try not to look at that during games because it’s bad luck, but I did see the scoreboard tonight,” said Hall, who has already thrown a couple of no-hitters at the varsity level. “I wanted it. We did get close, but that’s okay.”

Eastside collected 14 hits, as junior Emma Sartin set the pace with two singles and a double.

Maddie Compton, Rhyleigh Lawson and Haley Day collected two hits each for Eastside, while Taylor Clay drove in three runs.

“We’ve been working on our offense, and Braelyn did a great job of moving the ball around and making the hitters guess,” Eastside coach Suzi Atwood. “Braelyn is tough mentally.”

Honaker was handicapped by six errors and had no answer for Hall.

“She kept us off balance all day, but you’re not going to beat anybody by making six errors and having just one hit,” Honaker coach Donovan Helton said. “I told my girls before the game that we needed to play perfect.”

Lincoln Bush collected the lone hit for Tigers.

Honaker featured just one senior in catcher Anna Dye.

“We relied on a lot of sophom*ores and freshmen, and we will keep working,” Helton said. “We took one step forward from last year by advancing from the regional quarterfinals to the semifinals. We hope to make the finals next year.”

The Tigers posted an overall record of 13-10 in their first year back in the Hogoheegee District.

“Playing in the Hogo made us a better team,” Helton said. “We will return to the district next year with pretty much the same group of kids.”

Eastside defeated Honaker 8-2 in the 2023 regional semifinals.

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Shelton and A. Dye. Hall and Compton. W-Hall. L-Shelton. HR-none.