Softball Tournament Recap: Baylor Battles Tough Competition at Gibbs High School

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – This past weekend, Gibbs High School hosted a highly competitive softball tournament featuring some of the top teams in the state. Despite Friday night rain cutting into game time, Saturday's action-packed slate went on with 70-minute drop-dead rules in place. Baylor took the field for four challenging matchups, finishing with a 1-3 record but showing grit and flashes of brilliance throughout.

The Raiders dropped a close one to Halls 3-1 in a four-inning showdown. As time expired, Baylor had two runners on base, threatening to rally. Amiya Leach drove in Baylor's lone run with a single to left, while Addison Wallington turned in a strong outing in the circle, allowing just one earned run and striking out five.

Wallington bounced back in the second game with a dominant performance, tossing a four-hit shutout against Science Hill in a 6-0 win. She added five more strikeouts to her total. Xahara Willis had a big game at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a home run and an RBI double. Chloe Cunningham and Olivia Elkhill chipped in with RBI singles, and Brenley Gentry contributed a hit and a run-scoring fielder's choice.

In a marquee matchup against the state's top-ranked team, Green Hill, Baylor fell 5-2. Willis stayed hot, going 2-for-2 with a triple and an RBI single. Wallington added an RBI with a single up the middle. Brenna Bagley pitched valiantly, striking out eight in four innings of work.

Baylor's final game was another hard-fought contest, ending in a 2-1 loss to William Blount. Wallington accounted for the Raiders' only RBI, while Elkhill, Leach, Willis, Gentry, and Rylee Jasper all recorded hits. Jasper pitched well despite the loss, giving up just two runs (one earned) in the first inning and finishing with six strikeouts.

Despite the tough weekend, Baylor looks to rebound quickly as they gear up to host four region games over three days this week.