Three-run seventh lifts Lady Mavs
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Anderson County’s Leah Freeman collects a hit Monday against Clinton. - Ken Leinart
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Clinton’s Bree McKamey pitched a strong game for the Lady Dragons, but fatigue may have been a factor late in the game. - Ken Leinart
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Anderson County’s Reece Simpson picked up the win Monday night with a steady seven-inning outing in the circle. - Ken Leinart
The Anderson County Lady Mavericks softball team beat Clinton 5-4 in the opening round of the district tournament Monday night.
The Lady Mavs took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but the Lady Dragons scored two in the bottom of the inning to go up 2-1. Anderson County tied the game with a run in the top of the third.
That score held until the bottom of the fifth, when Clinton plated two runs to move ahead 4-2.
The Lady Dragons held the lead until the top of the seventh, when the Lady Mavs scored three runs to take a 5-4 lead.
Reece Simpson pitched seven innings for the win. She allowed four earned runs on seven hits.
Henderson finished 1-1 with a home run and two RBI. Hannah Hooks went 1-3 with three RBI. Leah Freeman also collected a hit.
“Really, we got outplayed tonight, but sometimes you win when you get outplayed,” said Allen Russell, head coach of the Lady Mavs.
Bree McKamey pitched all seven innings and was saddled with the loss. She allowed five earned runs on three hits.
Taylor Sherwood was 2-3 with two RBI, while teammate Cheryl Breeden was 1-3 with an RBI. Tomi Taylor went 2-3 while Sarah Burton was 1-3 with a double. McKaylah Cantrell went 1-1.
With the win, the Lady Mavs were to face the top-seed Halls Lady Red Devils on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The Lady Dragons were to face Scott at 6 p.m. Tuesday. If they win, they will play the loser of the Anderson County-Halls game on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
All tournament games are being played at Halls.
Last Thursday, the Lady Mavs beat visiting Clinton by a score of 9-1.
After the Lady Dragons scored a run in the top of the first, the Lady Mavs tied the score in the bottom of the inning.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the fourth when the Lady Mavs exploded for five runs. They added three more in the bottom of the fifth.
Simpson pitched all seven innings and got the win. She allowed one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts
For the Lady Mavs, Freeman had just one hit but she made it count. She had a home run and three RBI. Hooks was 1-3 with a double and an RBI. Audrey Lankford was 2-3 with an RBI and Makayla Simmons was 2-3 with three RBI. McKenna Miller was 1-3 with an RBI.
“Bats were slow to get going, and then they got hot and we started hitting the ball a little bit,” Russell said. “Base hits started rolling in and we started hitting the ball like we’re supposed to.”
Taylor Sherwood took the loss, pitching two innings and allowing three earned runs on four hits. Bree McKamey was 2-3 with a triple. Sarah Burton and Cheryl Breeden each had a hit for the Lady Dragons.
Last Tuesday, the Lady Mavs fell at Union County by a score of 12-2.
The Lady Patriots scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead. The Lady Mavs scored a run in the top of third, but Union County answered with a run. Anderson County scored a run in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Lady Patriots scored three in the bottom of the fifth to go up 6-2. They added six in the bottom of the sixth.
“We actually played pretty well the first couple of innings,” Russell said. “I believe that Reece [Simpson] got tired from pitching the day before. We tried to sub to throw an off-speed pitcher to see if that would work. They wound up hitting her pretty good.”
Simpson took the loss, with four earned runs on eight hits. Freeman was 1-2 with a double and two runs scored.