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By C.Y. Peters

Star Correspondent

HAMPTON — The Cloudland Lady Highlanders wasted no time jumping on Hampton early and never looked back, posting a commanding 15-0 victory in four innings Thursday afternoon at Hampton.

Cloudland, batting as the visiting team, struck immediately in the top of the first. Reagan Blair, the leadoff batter, reached first safely. After Hampton pitcher Briley Davis notched two quick strikeouts, Reagan Turbyfill doubled to spark the rally. Peyton Presswood drew a walk, followed by an RBI single from Abriella Jones. Jayla Harper then cracked a double of her own, and when the dust settled, the Lady Highlanders had plated five runs to open the game.

Hampton tried to answer in the bottom of the second, getting two runners aboard via a walk and a hit-by-pitch but couldn’t push a run across.

The second inning looked much like the first for Cloudland. Alicia Harrison, Turbyfill, Jones, Harper and Eowyn McCoury all crossed the plate to extend the lead to 10-0. Hampton went three up, three down in their half of the inning.

In the third, Cloudland threatened again with two runners reaching base but couldn’t cash in. Hampton’s Hannah Smith reached base for the Lady Bulldogs in the bottom of the third but was left stranded.

Cloudland put the game completely out of reach in the fourth inning. Harper scored her second run of the game, Savannah McCoury crossed the plate, Blair scored her second run, Ayla Horney added another, and Turbyfill came around for her third run scored of the day, making it 15-0.

Turbyfill, with nerves of steel and a fire in her heart, took the circle and never let go of the moment. From the first inning, she made it clear she was in command — working corners, changing speeds and making batters chase pitches they couldn’t touch. That pattern repeated seven times over the course of the game, as Turbyfill fanned seven Hampton hitters, refusing to give them a chance to find their rhythm. She gave up just two hits all night — neither of which advanced past second base — and didn’t allow a single run.

Cloudland head coach Corie Schuettler praised her team’s performance after the game:
“I thought it was a good team win. We went through a slump last week hitting, so we really worked on it. When Reagan is throwing strikes, she’s hard to hit,” Schuettler said.

Meanwhile, Hampton coach Allison Riddle reflected on the loss:
“They hit the ball well, and we didn’t make some of the easy plays,” she said.

Both teams will now turn their attention to tournament play starting next week. Cloudland and Hampton currently sit in second place in their respective conferences, setting up an exciting postseason run for both squads.