Fifth inning fuels Lady Dragons over Oak Ridge
The Clinton High School Lady Dragons Softball team earned a big 11-3 District 3-AAA win over Oak Ridge last week.
With the game tied at 1-1, heading into the fifth inning, Clinton (3-9, 2-2) found offensive momentum which resulted in a Lady Dragons’ barrage of eight runs. Oak Ridge countered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.
However, Clinton’s damage was done, and the Lady Dragons would defend their 11-3 advantage for the win.
Lady Dragons’ pitcher Angela Gunter earned the win in the circle. Gunter pitched all seven innings, faced 28 Lady Wildcat batters, and homed in 68 strikes out of 94 total pitches. The Clinton ace gave up five hits, three earned runs, walked none, and tallied five K’s.
Offensively, the Lady Dragons scored 11 runs on eight hits, and totaled seven RBIs. Clinton showed efficient, effective baserunning too, as the Lady Dragons stole six bases. Nikki Jones and Lacy Jones both snagged two stolen bases each.
At the dish, Clinton was led by Sarah Burton, who went 3-for-3 against Oak Ridge. Burton finished the night with three hits—all singles, a walk, an RBI, and a stolen base. Kailee Taylor had a good game at the plate, as well. Taylor went 1-for-2, with a single, a walk, was hit by a pitch, and recorded a stolen base.
Over the weekend, the Lady Dragons traveled to Kingsport, for the Eastman Invitational Softball Tournament. Clinton went 1-3 at the tournament and failed to advance out of pool play.
However, the Lady Dragons did return home with a 10-6 win over Knoxville Catholic.
Clinton will return home this Thursday, for a District 3-AAA battle with Central, at 6:00. The following day, the Lady Dragons will visit arch-rival Anderson County, for an in-school District 3-AAA showdown. First pitch of the in-school rivalry contest at Anderson County is currently scheduled for 2:45.
