Kingsport—With 25 hits, the Lady Warriors were playing heavy metal Wednesday as they defeated the Golden Raiders 25-5 in five innings to start out the conference season 1-0.

Lady Warriors Olivia Kelly led the batting assault as she went 5-of-6, while picking up three RBIs and four homeruns. Also putting metal on the ball was senior Kalee Johnson, who hit for 4-of-5, while posting a double, five runs and two RBIs. Also recording some big numbers was Kenzie Davis, who batted for 4-of-5, with four RBIs, a double, and two runs.

“Our sticks finally got going today,” Happy Valley’s first-year coach Bonnie Peters said. “We started out a little slow coming out of basketball. They got things going today and they did a great job.”

Happy Valley’s Bailey Hardin opened up things from the mound for the Lady Warriors. Over two innings, she faced nine batters four of which she stuck out, while giving one hit and a walk. After pitching two, Hardin was relieved by Davis.

“Bailey is our sophomore pitcher,” Peters said. “I thought she did great today. It was her first official time pitching on varsity, and I thought she did a great job stepping up.”

The Lady Warriors got to work early. In the first inning, Happy Valley picked up four runs, with Davis bringing in both Kelly and Emily Whitaker with a single. Johnson and Kaitlyn Roberts both also found their way home in the inning.

After holding, the Lady Raiders scoreless in the first. The Lady Warriors unloaded in the top of the second as they knocked in 11 runs. Both Whitaker and Lillie Runningcrane highlighted the inning as the Lady Warriors both popped doubles while recording an RBI each.

The top of the third saw Hardin do her best slinging as she struck out three batters in a row to send the Lady Raider back to their dugout.

The Lady Warriors posted five more runs in the top of the fourth, before posting five more in the fifth. Runningcrane smacked a two run homer out of left field to highlight the fifth inning.

The Lady Raiders picked up steam in the fifth inning as they posted all five of their runs in the frame. However, the damage had already been done and the umpire called the game after five.

Happy Valley will pick things back up today with a trip to Sullivan South.