In talking with Elizabethton softball head coach Ken Hardin after the Cyclones last defeat to Crockett by an 8-1 score, one could tell that the long-time skipper wasn’t too concerned about the way his team would respond.
Hardin’s words were backed up in a resounding way Monday evening as the Lady Cyclones wasted little time in dispatching the visiting Lady Warriors of Happy Valley by a 21-2 score.
Elizabethton got all the runs they needed early as senior Maci West brought out the hammer at the plate as the centerfielder single-handedly gave senior pitcher Kellie Cunningham all the run support she needed driving in five runs on two hits.
West blasted a three-run home run in the first inning on an 0-1 count and then followed that up with a double to score two runs in the second inning.
The Lady Cyclones also got plenty of help from Kaylen Shell, Kira Dillard, Macie Herrmann, and Hannah Edwards who all drove in runs in the inning.
Elizabethton recorded 17 hits in the contest led by Shell, Edwards, and Haley Fair who collected three hits apiece in the game.
Marley Wagner and Herrmann added two hits for ‘Betsy.
Cunningham covered three innings from the circle allowing both Lady Warrior runs on four hits and struck out one Lady Warrior batter.
Lauren Brickey toed the rubber for the final two innings of relief for Hardin’s team. Brickey also collected two hits in the contest with three runs batted in.
The Lady Warriors were led by Olivia Absher, Calli Davis (2B), Kadie Havner (2B), and Cierra Southerland who each collected a base hit.
Davis went one-third of an inning giving up seven runs on four hits to absorb the loss while Abby Holt covered three and two-thirds of an inning issuing 14 runs on 13 hits.