Throw out the one tie and Ooltewah has been on the good end of 41 of its 44 softball games this season.

First baseman Bri Shoemake said every game has been important, and she’s right. However, up next is a game the Lady Owls have had their sights set on for a year.

The TSSAA softball season is down to its final 16 teams in each of the three Division I classifications. Sectionals are being held throughout the state this weekend with the winners advancing to next week’s Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.

Ooltewah is hosting Lawrence County in a Class AAA game originally scheduled for tonight but changed to Saturday at 11 a.m. to accommodate Lawrence’s graduation.

“Every game gets you to the next game,” Shoemake said. “We’ve been focused. I think we’ll probably be more focused for this game. I have a feeling it’s going to be more intense. We need to make things happen in the beginning and not wait around. We’re very determined to win this game.”

The reason for such concentration is because Ooltewah’s season came to an end at this point last year. The Lady Owls had blown a 4-2 lead in the final inning in the Region 3 final at Soddy-Daisy, then had to travel in the sectional round and lost at Murfresboro Riverdale.

“We really wanted to host this year,” said Holly Thomas, the winning pitcher in Wednesday’s 2-0 region-final victory over Soddy-Daisy. “Beginning with the district tournament, we’ve been home every game. It’s just better playing on our own field.

“I don’t think we’re scoring enough runs, but the competition is better now. Other than that, things are great. Team chemistry is great. Hopefully in the sectional we can jump on them early. The main thing is for us to be focused from the first inning.”

Lawrence County eliminated Riverdale 4-3 in a Region 4 semifinal Monday. Many thought Riverdale’s season essentially ended in March when pitcher and Tennessee signee Cat Hosfield broke her ankle sliding into second base in a game in Florida.

“You hate for any kid to get hurt,” Ooltewah coach Norma Nelson said. “You don’t want to say it looks like things are easier now, but it’s almost like now (the Lady Owls) see something’s reachable. In practice they’ve been working hard. They have a good time. It’s got to be fun, but it’s whole lot more fun when you’re winning. I think they see there’s really something out there they can get to.”

E-mail Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com