| Davidson, UC duo not ‘Blue’; Rain ruins plans of Reb Davis | By: By KENNETH COKER, Messenger Sports Reporter
| Posted: Thursday, June 10, 2010 4:25 pm
| 
South Fulton’s Kayla Davidson plots her next move. | | | JACKSON — Recently-graduated South Fulton softball standout Kayla Davidson got to suit up and play again at the high school level on Wednesday as did Union City’s Paige Fisher and Karly Hollis.
The local trio all wore the jersey of the Blue team during a 5-0 defeat to the Yellow team in the first-ever West Tennessee All-Star Game at the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex in Jackson.
Meanwhile, Obion Central baseball standout Ethan Davis simply got to put on his cleats and a jersey as the third annual West Tennessee All-Star Game was rained out after just an 11⁄2 innings at Pringles Park.
The Gray team, of which Davis was part of, was ahead 4-0 when play was stopped due to a severe thunderstorm in the area.
In the softball game, both teams might have played until 7 p.m. when the rain arrived if not for a five-run Yellow team outburst in the top of the third inning.
The five-run rally came thanks to a pair of walks, two wild pitches, a double, a single and a two-run homer by Lexington’s Tiffany Keck off eventual losing pitcher Paige French of Dyer County.
Despite the defeat, the three locals weren’t “Blue.”
Davidson, an Austin Peay signee and member of the Devilettes’ team that claimed third place at the Class A State Tournament last month, had an admirable day with a single.
The SF product, who played her entire high school career for noted taskmaster Curt Lee, actually missed her now-former coach’s way of doing things.
“I kind of wish Coach Lee was out there,” Davidson said after the game that certainly had a more laid back atmosphere than what the South Fulton infielder was used to. “It was kind of weird because everyone out there plays differently than from how we did.
“It was a great experience, though, and good to be on the same team as Paige and Karly after butting heads so much.”
Hollis, who pitched the eighth inning and played right field, and Fisher — the Blue team’s starting right fielder — both agreed it was a positive experience to be on the same bench as Davidson.
Fisher also was proud to share her final softball game with Hollis — a long-time teammate from the youth league level.
“It was really special for my last inning of my final softball game to be with Karly on the mound,” said Fisher, who will attend Tennessee in the fall and major in biology.
Hollis, who got out of a jam with runners at the corners by catching a scorching line drive back to the pitcher’s circle, noted that she was pleasantly surprised to be selected for the game.
“I thought I was finished playing softball,” said Hollis, who plans to attend Middle Tennessee State University in the fall. “I’m glad I got the chance to come out and just have fun.
“I’m also glad I got out of that jam in the eighth inning without embarrassing myself.”
It is worth noting that Fisher, Hollis and Davidson weren’t the lone locals selected to the softball All-Star Game. Obion Central’s Olivia Grady was also to be on the team, but the recent graduate is in Italy on a mission trip with First Baptist Church of Troy.
On the baseball side of things, the downpour that engulfed the home of the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx was such that the home dugout had a few inches of standing water when all was said and done and puddles of standing water littered the warning track.
The baseball All-Star Game will not be made up.
“It was an honor to get picked, but I would’ve liked to have played,” said Davis, who said he has talked with Bethel University about his services as a baseball player. “All my hard work paid off to get to this point.”
Prior to the rain, Milan’s Eric Todd smacked a three-run homer over the 330 feet sign in left field to highlight the Gray team’s offensive effort in the first inning. | | | | |
