Weekend Roundup: Cyclones collect 16 hits, beat West Ridge
Published 11:31 am Monday, April 7, 2025
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Elizabethton first baseman Bryson Rowland flashes his speed as he ranges into foul territory to record an out on a pop fly.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Center fielder Brayden Buckles drifts back to make a catch in the bottom of the first inning.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Logan Campbell fouls off a pitch as the third inning gets underway.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Cyclones picked up seven stolen bases in the game. Here, Rhett Slagle slides under the tag at third base.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent JD Hooks hits a line drive to third for a base hit in the top of the fifth inning.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Justin Whitehead knocks down a hard-hit ball at third and recovers in time to make the play.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Carson Atkinson got the start for the Cyclones, going four innings and giving up four runs in a solid outing.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
Baseball
Elizabethton 11, West Ridge 8 — After suffering a shutout loss to the Hilltoppers last week, the Elizabethton Cyclones hit the road to take on the West Ridge Wolves. Their bats bounced back in a huge way en route to an 11-8 win.
They got on the board first as JD Hooks knocked a grounder past second to make it 1-0. After keeping the Wolves quiet in their half of the first, the Cyclones picked up four more runs in the second as Rhett Slagle hit a double to left and then took advantage of a Wolves error off the bat of Steven Meadows to collect two more runs and a 5-0 advantage.
The Wolves got two runs back in the bottom of the second when Reed White hit a pop fly that just cleared the right-field wall. They made it a 5-4 game after a double off the bat of Louis Campbell. The Cyclones responded in a big way in the top of the fifth, plating five runs to put the game out of reach. The damage came off the bat of Marshal Holtsclaw, who hit a double down the left-field line, and Slagle, who scorched one up the third-base line that couldn’t be handled.
Carson Atkinson got the start and was solid for the Cyclones, going four innings and giving up four runs. Reliever Seth Holly handled the last three innings and surrendered three runs. Justin Whitehead collected four hits in the game, while Slagle added three hits and scored three times. Jack Blevins also chalked up three hits and stole two bases in the win.
Softball
Hampton 7-5, West Greene 6-6 (DH)
The Lady Bulldogs split a doubleheader with the Lady Buffaloes. In the first game, the Lady Bulldogs earned a dramatic walk-off victory when Emma Birchfield roped a double to center to plate two runs. Maleah Scalf collected two hits to lead the way. Mallory Lamb drew three walks, and Hannah Smith scored three runs in the win. On the mound, Briley Davis picked up the win, throwing five innings, giving up five earned runs and striking out seven.
In Game 2, the Lady Buffs returned the favor with their own walk-off win, plating two in the bottom of the sixth. The final run came off a steal of home to seal it. Lamb and Lauren Smith each picked up two hits in the loss.
Elizabethton 8, Sullivan East 1
Lilly McDuffie was dominant on the mound. The senior hurler racked up 10 strikeouts and allowed only two hits and no earned runs over seven innings.
The Lady Cyclones plated five runs in the first inning to spark the win. A Mikinna Blackwell single followed an Adrian Heading single past short, and a Brook Sparks double to the gap in center got the Lady Cyclones rolling.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Cyclones added three more as Sadie Williams led off the inning with her seventh home run of the season, as Elizabethton improved to 15-3.
Soccer
Elizabethton 3, Morristown West 2 — The Cyclones jumped out to a 3-0 lead early over the Class 3A Trojans and then had to hang on as a couple of late penalty kicks cut their lead to a single goal.
Drake Teague picked up two goals and an assist in the win, while Connor Blevins and Reece Vernon each chipped in a goal.
“I thought we played incredible in the first quarter of the game. We were unselfish and got into position and communicated well. In the second half, we reverted to some bad habits and had to hang on. We escaped, nonetheless. We’ll take it and build on it moving forward,” Cyclones coach Doug Schulz said.
