Providing a spark… Cyclones late-game rally leads to big win over Pioneers, 8-4
Published 1:30 am Thursday, April 29, 2021
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Lady Cyclone Maely Ingram pulls in a pop fly to left field for an out.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Cheyenne Poiroux knocks one out of the park for Elizabethton Tuesday evening at home against Crockett.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Cheyenne Poiroux is all smiles as she rounds the bases after hitting a home run for the Lady Cyclones.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Lexie Holmes fields a single to right field by Crockett Tuesday evening at home.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Elizabethton's Madisun Pritchard picks up a bunted ball by Crockett and makes the throw out at first.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Lady Cyclone Maddie O'Quinn goes for the tag out at third against Crockett Tuesday evening.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Emma Q'Quinn smacks one just right of center field for a double driving in Cheyenne Poiroux for a score.
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BY NIC MILLER
STAR CORRESPONDENT
As the school year comes to a close, softball teams around the region are also beginning to wrap things up in the campaign, finalizing things for postseason play.
One team, in particular, the Elizabethton Cyclones, were looking to continue the success they have found throughout the season on Tuesday night at home against the Pioneers of David Crockett.
The Cyclones were able to get things started early as in the bottom of the first, hits by Maely Ingram and Madisun Pritchard would eventually lead to a sacrifice fly by Ember Jensen that brought one runner around to score, making it 1-0 heading into the second inning of play.
And good things would continue to happen for the Cyclones in the second as Cheyenne Poiruoux would send a ball flying deep to left-center field for a solo round-tripper, increasing the Betsy advantage over the Pioneers to 2-0 after two.
The top half of the third inning saw the Pioneers score their first run of the contest, a result of a passed ball. But that was the only run allowed by the stout Cyclone defense as the Pioneers left one stranded to end the frame.
After no action in the bottom third, David Crockett found home plate again in the top of the fourth inning on a double steal play that left everyone safe. Midway through the matchup, things were all knotted up at two apiece.
But worry not, as in the home half of the fourth, the Cyclones’ Emma O’Quinn would come up clutch with a full count and two outs, bringing Poiruoux home once again with an RBI double to make it 3-2 just before the fifth inning.
Things became interesting once again in the top of the fifth when Crockett’s Alyssa Suits would turn a triple into a round-tripper of sorts due to a throw that would sail over the fence to tie things up again.
And after a quiet rest of the fifth, the Pioneers would continue to perform at the plate during the sixth inning of play as they were able to take the lead with a Sydney Hodges single to score the go-ahead run, 4-3.
With little time left, the Cyclones, and more specifically O’Quinn would come up huge for the home squad with the game-tying RBI in the bottom of the sixth to knot things up at four apiece.
But things would get even better for ‘Betsy in the next at-bat when an errant throw by the shortstop flew past the first baseman to score another run for Elizabethton.
And if that was not enough, yet another runner would come across to score in the third straight at-bat thanks to a passed ball that made it a 6-4 advantage for the home squad.
And it seemed like that party would not stop for Elizabethton, as it was Maddie O’Quinn’s turn to drive in a run with a double to straight-away left. The dagger came not too long after, as Jensen delivered another RBI to make it an 8-4 ball game with one shot left for the Pioneers.
Despite the tremendous effort, the Pioneers were not able to get the rally going as the Cyclones would go on to win by a final decision of 8-4.
