MARYVILLE – It's official. Maryville has fought back into the Collegiate Conference of the South softball hierarchy.
One week after the Scots played No. 12 Belhaven to the limit twice on the Blazers' home field, only to lose a pair of two-run games, they turned the tables and took down Piedmont on Senior Day. And that should land the Scots in third place when all is decided for the 2025 CCS regular season.
Not bad at all.
"We're playing our best softball when we need to be playing our best softball," said Maryville head coach
Jill Moore, who is 34-14 (.708) in league play over her three seasons leading the Scots and 80-46 (.635) overall. "We called this week, 'Win the moment.' We aren't going to play perfect softball; that's not our team. We don't need to play perfect softball, but we won the moments."
Moore watched her pitchers manage the games and, when given leads late, close things out.
Jacey Goetzinger was solid in her Game 1 start, going 4 and 2-3 innings and scattering three runs on seven hits.
Paige Dickinson was solid in her Game 2 start, going four innings and allowing two runs on eight hits. And
Tia Stewart was solid in BOTH games, pitching a combined 5 and 1-3 innings and allowing two runs on seven hits.
Stewart (6-4) earned the Game 1 win and picked up her second save in the nightcap. Dickinson (6-4) claimed the win in Game 2.
"We got two great outings by Paige and Jacey, and then Tia in both games coming in and slamming the door was huge for us," Moore said. "I'm proud of our pitching staff. They've worked tirelessly all season for moments like they had today."
Syd Making Noise
Also working tirelessly has been
Sydney Dickinson, and it is paying dividends.
Sydney belted home runs in both games, the first one a pinch-homer on the first pitch she saw – a laser over the fence in left center that narrowed Piedmont's lead to 3-1 in the fifth. The second blast was a two-run rainbow shot at the scoreboard that handed the Scots a 2-1 lead in the third inning.
"Yes, Syd is working hard in the cage, and she is the hitter who can change a game with one swing," Moore said. "She did that for us twice today."
Sydney was 4-for-5 on the afternoon with four RBIs. The first-year began the season 0-for-17, but she has climbed to .274 and is tied with her sister for the team home run lead with five. Over her last 11 games, Sydney is batting .407 (11-for-27) with all five of her home runs and nine of her 12 RBIs.
"Her first home run, cutting at that first pitch, we were down 3-0 but then 3-1 is a different ball game. And then she got another pitch to hit in Game 2 and gave us the lead, and we never looked back. I'm proud of how her approach at the plate is coming along."
Trio of Hot Hitters
Also swinging the sticks for the Scots on Good Friday were
Brecca Williams, who was 3-for-4 with three runs scored;
Ashtyn Barga, who was 4-for-6 with a double, a stolen base and two runs scored; and
Paige Dickinson, who was 3-for-7 with three runs driven in.
Williams ranks among the nation's top five in batting and leads the CCS at .579. That is 62 points clear of Belhaven's Ellie Jones in second place. Williams was third nationally in hits at the latest update and now has 66, or three shy of her career high from last year. She has 215 career hits and counting.
Barga is second to Williams on the team in both batting average at .381 and runs scored (39 to 28). Over her last 14 games, the first-year outfielder is batting .571 (24-for-42) with 16 runs and a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen bases. She leads the team with 15 steals to Williams' 14.
Paige Dickinson surpassed her RBI total from a year ago (43 to 42) and ranks fourth in the conference. She has hit safely in 13 of her last 14 games, batting .488 (20-for-41) over that stretch with three home runs and 26 RBIs.
Senior Day Sendoff
Before the game, Maryville Athletics recognized seniors Williams,
Sarah Phelps and
Campbell White and their families. And then their teammates gave them the perfect going-away present for Friday's final time on the home dirt.
"You always want that for your seniors, and these were big games," Moore said. "These student-athletes work hard every day, and they are bought in. It took us some time to figure out who we were and how we were going to win games, and when you had a brand new team like we did to start the year, it took me a lot of time.
"But it's clicking at the right time, and they have never given up. They fight, they come out, they work hard and I'm excited for what's in store for them."
After stretching their winning streak over Piedmont to seven games, the Scots are 18-18 overall with two games upcoming at Centre on April 27. The Scots defeated their future Southern Athletic Association foes 14-6 and 5-1 back on March 24.
"We're going to get in the weight room, we're going to hit, and we will get our rest," Moore said. "We will study, and this time will give us a chance to breathe and recover. But we are going to keep swinging.
"Those games at Centre are big games for us, and they are going to help us. I am excited to be able to get another competition in before we go back to the conference tournament."
