Bailey Goad Leads Dca Softball To First Tssaa Championship

MURFREESBORO – Bailey Goad came to the rescue in the pitcher's circle and at the plate for Donelson Christian Academy, which defeated Silverdale 4-3 for its first TSSAA Division II-A softball state championship at Middle Tennessee State.

Goad, the Wildcats' ace pitcher, stepped into the circle in relief in Game 2 of the championship and held Silverdale scoreless over the last three innings on May 22.

Even bigger than that, the Trevecca-bound left-hander hit an RBI double to left field in the seventh to break the tie and deliver DCA its first softball state championship after finishing state runner-up in 2022.

"Coming back in to pitch I was pretty confident that we would get it done," said Goad, who saw Silverdale tie it at 3-3 with a two-run home run in the fourth inning while she was playing first. "I knew that once we got back to the top, I was going to get it done, we were going to score."

Goad started nearly every game on DCA's way to a 32-6 record this season. She continued to carry a heavy load this week, pitching a total of 20 innings in wins over Silverdale and University School of Jackson on May 21 and seven in the first game against Silverdale, a 6-3 win over the Wildcats.

Goad needed a break heading into the second game in the finals, and freshman Rachael Baker replaced her.

"Rachel is just very head down, 'You tell me what to do and I'll do it,' " DCA first-year coach Laurel Sloan said. "We gave her the go and she took care of business."

Baker did give up a two-run homer in the fourth that allowed the Seahawks to tie the game.

"I was a little bit surprised they put me out there because Bailey has gone quite a few innings before; she's a real tough one," Baker said. "My job was to throw strikes. Not walk people. I wanted to leave us not losing if Bailey came back in. I just wanted to help her get some rest."

Goad, who started at first base in the second game, was rested, but not 100%. She has nursed a shin injury that has bothered her all season and will see a doctor on May 23.

"I got tired again after I came back in to pitch," Goad said. "At the end I was like, 'I'm almost out guys. We've got to do this right here.' "

The Wildcats got it done thanks to Goad along with Anaya Dawson, who hit a double before Goad came to bat. Facing a full count with two outs, Goad slapped into an open space in left field to score Dawson for the winning run.

"(Silverdale pitcher Brita Cox) was keeping it low there at first, but started going up," Goad said. "I like them high when I'm slapping so I was I like, I'm going to slap a little bit and make the defense work."

Goad missed out on an opportunity to win the first game when DCA was ahead 3-2 in the seventh. She allowed Silverdale's first three batters to get on base before striking out the next two. Silverdale's Gabbie Hensley then hit a two-run single followed by a two-run double by Cox and the Seahawks won 6-3.

"Our game is funny, we always say, 'You're going to get another opportunity,'" Sloan said. "Just keeping grinding, and Goad came up when it mattered."

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA softball championships: Bailey Goad, DCA win first state title