Lady Cyclones put away resilient Highlanders, 12-8
Published 10:19 am Thursday, April 10, 2025
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Cloudland pitcher Reagen Turbyfill rocks back before delivering a pitch.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Highlanders left fielder Khloe Johnson reaches up to snag a line drive and prevent a base hit.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Lady Cyclone Laci Gobble shows off strong mechanics as she drives off the pitching rubber.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Cloudland right fielder Ayla Horney quickly throws the ball to the infield.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Highlanders second baseman closes off her body to make the throw to first.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Lady Highlanders’ Eowyn McCoury hits a hard ground ball into left for a base hit.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Lily McDuffie picks up her second hit of the night on a fly ball to left.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Sadie Williams records the final out of the fourth inning as she pulls in a pop-up.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Adrian Heading smokes a ball to right-center for a base hit in the bottom of the fifth inning.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
The Lady Cyclones played host to Cloudland Wednesday night in a clash of county teams. The Lady Cyclones used their speed on the basepaths and some quality defense to put away a Highlanders team that refused to go down quietly.
The Lady Highlanders jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning as they collected four hits and two walks to get their offense moving. Layken Blair hit a single to left to plate Reagan Blair and Eowyn McCoury; that was followed by a Peyton Presswood walk and a single by Reagan Turbyfill to score Alya Horney and Blair.
The Lady Cyclones quickly answered in the bottom of the first as a Mikinna Blackwell hit to center sent home Sadie Williams. That was followed by singles from Brook Sparks and Adrian Heading, plating two more runs. A walk by Piper Bennett and a single to right by Lily McDuffie loaded the bases. Sparks stole home to tie the game, and a Sadie Williams walk forced home another run to make it 5-4 after just the first inning.
The Lady Cyclones held the Lady Highlanders scoreless in the top of the second; however, the Cyclones picked up a couple of runs in their half of the inning as Bennett and McDuffie recorded RBIs to push the Cyclones’ lead to 7-4.
The Lady Cyclones continued to slowly create breathing room as they added a run in the third and three more in the fourth, sparked by a Kaitlyn Gryder single to left and Williams alertly coming home on a passed ball, pushing Elizabethton’s lead out to 11-4. It would be an injustice not to mention an eye-popping snag in center by Adrian Heading that robbed Abriella Jones of extra bases in the top of the fourth.
But the Highlanders responded with a couple of runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth as Blair hit a single past short, and McCoury doubled off the wall in left. Blair scampered home on a fielder’s choice, and Peyton Presswood knocked home McCoury with a hit to left to make the score 11-6.
Piper Bennett picked up an RBI in the bottom of the fifth to make it 12-6. Both teams went quietly in the sixth inning. The Highlanders went back to work in the seventh, picking up two runs as Blair and McCoury came home off a Savanah McCoury single before Cyclones reliever Piper Smith ended the game with a strikeout.
Blackwell and McDuffie both picked up two hits for the Lady Cyclones, while Sadie Williams did her job in the leadoff spot, collecting a hit and three walks and swiping five stolen bases. The Lady Cyclones picked up 12 stolen bases in total. On the mound, Laci Gobble threw six innings and allowed just two earned runs while striking out five.
For the Highlanders, Blair, Savanah McCoury and Eowyn McCoury all had multiple hits.
Postgame, head Cyclones coach Kenny Hardin reflected on his team’s performance. “I think we did just enough to get the win tonight against a good Cloudland team. Defensively we played well — great play in center by Heading,” Coach Hardin shared.
