Hayden Neely (6) and the Carter Hornets defeated the Dyer County Choctaws, 6-2, in a TSSAA Class 3A state tournament semifinal at McKnight Park on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY JESSE SMITHEY
MURFREESBORO — Freshman Hayden Neely took the circle for the Carter High School softball team Thursday night, and all that rested on her shoulders was the program’s first-ever trip to the state championship.
No problem for Neely.
She pitched a complete-game five-hitter and allowed just one earned run, as Carter defeated Dyer County, 6-2, in an if-necessary game in the 3A semifinals to send the Lady Hornets to Friday’s Class 3A championship against Gibbs.
“I’m just taking it all in. All the girls did really well,” Carter coach Nicole Light said. “It was really tight. Dyer County is a great team. They fought really hard. We kept our composure and we played really well.”
And as for Neely’s performance?
“She’s one of those that, every time we put her in the game and no matter who we’re playing, she’s going to give 110 percent, no matter what,” Light added. “She did that today. She did really well, and I’m really proud of her.”
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Carter (22-10) will rematch with Gibbs (30-12) at 5:30 p.m. Friday at MTSU for the state title, just some 10 days after the Lady Hornets beat Gibbs in the Region 2-3A championship game.
That was Carter’s first win over Gibbs since 2012.
If they’re able to repeat that feat, the Lady Hornets would stand to capture their first state champions in their first appearance in a state tournament.
Either way, getting to the finale was no easy task for Carter on Thursday.
It had to be beaten twice by Dyer County (29-17) to not reach the championship round, and the Lady Choctaws won the first game, 4-2, against Carter ace Malaney Etherton.
With Neely in the circle for Game 2, the Lady Hornets gave the freshman the run support she needed in the sixth inning. Tied at 2-all, Carter erupted for four runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Carter sophomore McKinley Grubb homered. Ivey Jones drove in a run on a fielder’s choice.
And Etherton’s single to left plated two more runs for the 6-2 advantage.
Dyer County got a couple of runners on with two outs in the final inning, but Neely got Dyer County sophomore catcher Emma Wray to pop out to center to complete the win.
“That shows how resilient they are and how bad they want this,” Light said of Carter’s resolve to win Game 2. “Just stay calm, cool and collected — and execute when it matters most.”
NICOLE LIGHT VIDEO INTERVIEW — VIEW HERE.
Gibbs Lady Eagles win 3-0 over Creek Wood to secure spot in Class 3A Championship Game on Friday