Lady Cyclones blow Central away in lopsided affair, 18-4
Published 8:30 am Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Cyclones right fielder Kallista DiPrimo fields a pop fly.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde #11 Kira Dillard of the Elizabethton Cyclones fields a hit to center field.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Cyclones short stop #17, Maggie Johson, flicks the ball to the third baseman in an attempted force out.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Lady Cyclones Maggie Johnson heads to first after a bunt.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Short stop #17 Maggie Johnson of the Cyclones gets the force out at second.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Lady Cyclones #8 Marley Wagner makes a big connection for a double and drives in two runs.
BY NIC MILLER
STAR CORRESPONDENT
BLUFF CITY— After a tough loss to Unicoi County last Friday night, the Elizabethton Lady Cyclones softball team was hoping to bounce back and stay alive Monday night against Sullivan Central as part of the District 1-AA softball tournament.
After a hot start for the Lady Cougars, Elizabethton was able to gain momentum early and never looked back winning this one easily 18-4.
In this do-or-die matchup, the Lady Cougars were able to get things going in the first frame of the game scoring two runs after a costly Elizabethton error.
The Lady Cyclones didn’t let a mistake on the defensive side affect their play at the plate as they brought two runs of their own home as a result of a two-RBI double to center field by starting pitcher Madisun Pritchard.
After a great start by both teams, it seemed as if this game would go down to the last at-bat.
Central kept it going in the second inning after a sacrifice fly to right field brought one more run across for the Lady Cougars.
In the bottom half, the Lady Cyclones decided that they wanted this win a little more scoring seven in the inning.
It all started with a Maddie O’Quinn infield single that brought senior Hannah Edwards across to score. Kira Dillard kept it going for Elizabethton as she drilled a double to right field that brought two Lady Cyclones across the plate.
Kaylen Shell and Pritchard also contributed to the scoring party bringing one runner in each. Marley Wagner ended the barrage for the Lady Cyclones as a line drive to left field brought home the final two runs of the inning.
In the third inning, Central wasn’t able to match the Lady Cyclones bringing only one run across in the frame.
Elizabethton however, was just getting started.
Maggie Johnson started the scoring attack coming across after Shell was hit by a pitch. Catcher Haley Fair also accounted for one run as a single off of her bat brought another Elizabethton runner home.
The Lady Cyclones, with their foot on the gas, scored seven additional runs thanks to Wagner, Edwards, Kallista Deprimo, Johnson, O’Quinn, and Dillard.
After taking an 18-4 lead after only three innings, the Lady Cyclones didn’t plan on looking back.
The fourth inning was a relatively quiet one as neither team was able to bring a run across the plate.
With only three outs to officially complete their tremendous performance at the plate, the Lady Cyclones wasted no time as the first two batters of the inning were sat down on strikes and the final batter’s appearance resulted in a ground ball out.
With the game being a 14-run contest, the umpires called the game due to the 10-run mercy rule
in the fifth inning.
When asked how this big win will carry the momentum over to Tuesday’s game, head coach Kenny Hardin replied, “Anytime you get a win this time of year, it’s a good feeling. Our girls played hard and were focused.
“We got down early, but we just absolutely hit it as good as we possibly could. If we can come out here and do that tomorrow, we should be alright. If we can win the first game tomorrow, we will have to turn right around and play another one which will be tough, but we’re just gonna give it our best and see what we can do.”
The Lady Cyclones faced the Sullivan South Lady Rebels in the first game Tuesday evening as loser’s bracket play continued.
