MURFREESBORO — The tears flowed without hesitation.
Columbia Academy softball completed the program’s third straight TSSAA state championship, and second straight in Division II-A, after crushing Donelson Christian 13-0 in five innings Friday at Starplex.
Senior first baseman Myleah Hardy may have had the hardest time keeping her composure as she embraced every teammate for several minutes then fell into the arms of coach Seth Anderson with the emotion flowing.
“It’s just the perfect way to go out,” Hardy said. “I went out with a bang.”
Hardy crushed three home runs to spark the Bulldogs (39-6). She smacked a three-run blast in the first, a solo shot in the fourth and another three-run homer in the fifth. She had seven RBIs and was 3-for-3.
“I’ve never seen anything like that, not in a state championship game,” Anderson said. “She was just incredible and set the tone right away.”
Hardy moved to Columbia Academy from Lawrence County after her sophomore year. She’s been a part of the Bulldogs past two state titles.
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“It’s been a blessing to be here,” said Hardy, who finished with six home runs in three games during the state tournament. “To be able to finish my career this way, to go out with a state title with these girls is just a perfect ending.”
Hardy will play at Freed-Hardeman next year but college softball was far from thoughts Friday night.
“The memories I’ve created with my teammates the last two years will last my entire life,” she said. “I’m so grateful they welcomed me into this family because that’s what this experience has been like — a family.”
Kennedy Chatman was 4-for-4 with a home run with three RBIs while third baseman Tori Duvall was perfect at the plate in three at-bats with a solo shot. Senior pitcher Avery Slaughter pitched all five frames and struck out seven.
“These seniors have built something really special,” Anderson said. “It’s been so much fun to coach these girls and every year they raise the bar. The expectation level is high here and they just continue to deliver.”
Reach sports writer George Robinson at [email protected] or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Columbia Academy’s dynasty rolls on after third TSSAA state softball crown
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