HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL: Region championship has familiar feeling

When Coffee County Central and Soddy Daisy High School meet at 6 p.m. tonight in the Region 3-AAA championship, the atmosphere will be familiar.

After all, these teams are very familiar with one another.

Last year, Coffee County upset Soddy Daisy 1-0 in Manchester to claim the Region 3-AAA championship before losing to Riverdale in the state sectional and falling one win shy of the TSSAA BlueCross Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.

In 2010 – it was Soddy Daisy beating Coffee County for the region crown.

“It’s going to be a tough game. It always is,” said ninth year CHS head softball coach Terry Floyd. “Last year was the first time we beat them in our history, we would love to do it again.”

The history between the two programs runs deep but it has been Soddy Daisy that has gotten the better of the series over time. In both 2008 and 2004, when Coffee County played in its former Region 4-AAA, it was Soddy Daisy beating Coffee County in the state sectional to end the Lady Raiders’ season one win shy of the state tournament.

Coffee County hasn’t been to the state tournament since 2000.

“Friday is the game that matters. Friday night is the game we have to win,” stated Floyd.

Tonight’s game (6 p.m. Central Time) at Soddy Daisy is not a must-win situation for either team. The winner will host the state sectional Friday night against the loser of Riverdale High School and Lincoln County High School in Region 4-AAA. The loser of tonight’s game will travel to the Region 4-AAA champion.

A loss Friday would end Coffee County’s season. A win would put the Lady Raiders into the state tournament.

“Tonight is to prepare us for Friday,” said Floyd. “I think last year we hyped up the region game too much and didn’t have any energy on Friday. We can’t let that happen this year.

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Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 12:46 pm