Predators coach Peter Laviolette, while awaiting Stanley Cup opponent, attends high school softball game

MURFREESBORO — The rainy weather forced a delay in Wednesday’s TSSAA state softball tournament action, but it actually worked out in one Brentwood fan’s favor.

Predators coach Peter Laviolette, whose daughter Elisabeth plays for the Lady Bruins' softball team, would have been forced to miss the squad's Class AAA tournament opener if not for the 7½-hour weather postponement.

“The game was (originally scheduled) at 11:30 a.m., and we were at the rink, so it really worked out well,” said Laviolette, who helped cheer his daughter’s team on to a 5-0 first-round win over Brighton at McKnight Park. “It just so happened that our series is over and we have a little bit of time off and so I've been fortunate." 

Laviolette, who is just the fourth coach in NHL history to lead three teams to a Stanley Cup Final, also got to see his daughter make a key offensive contribution for Brentwood, which is playing in its first state tournament since 2008. The Predators don't play again until Monday.

Junior Louisiana Tech commitment Hannah Koenig tossed a five-hit shutout for the Lady Bruins (28-9-2), while senior Annie Bruns finished with a pair of hits and an RBI in the victory. It was Elisabeth Laviolette, however, who executed a near perfect bunt down the first-base line to jumpstart her team’s decisive five-run third inning.

“I try and be a leader whenever I can, not always making plays but just cheering as loud as I can,” she said. “We have a lot of leaders on our team, always cheering. And when one of the girls is up, it brings up the rest of our team and just makes it easier for us to be game changers.”

She made a similarly clutch contribution in last week’s Class AAA sectional, launching her third home run of the season in the Lady Bruins’ 6-4 win over Mt. Juliet.

“She put a great bunt down and put it down the first-base line so that she could beat it out,” Brentwood coach Erica Powell said. “In our sub-state game she hit a home run and we were only 2-1 when she hit it so it was huge.

“She’s a player where when she does something, it shifts the momentum.”

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The Bruins will play Thursday, however the opponent and time were not determined at press time.

“All of us are (invested), the parents are great here and the team is doing unbelievable,” Peter Laviolette said.  “I was able to see a few games during the regular season, but just with the way it has worked out here I’ve been able to make it to four or five playoff games.

“I’ll be honest, these games here I enjoy coming out here and relaxing and just watching the girls play. It’s a different ball game when it’s our game at Bridgestone.”

Reach Michael Murphy at mfmurphy@tennessean.com, 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.