Lady ‘Cats gaining tournament momentum
Gloria Rust was one of three Lady Wildcats to manage a hit during the home matchup against Coalfield last Thursday. Oak Ridge won the game 5-2. (photo:Tony Cox )
Oak Ridge defeated Coalfield, 5-2, Thursday at home. The Lady Wildcats also won a District 3-4A contest against Campbell County, completing a regular-season sweep against the Cougars on Tuesday, April 23. ORHS (6-17 overall, 2-8 in the district) opened the week with a 15-0 three-inning victory over Concord Christian School, avenging an earlier 12-8 loss to the Lady Lions.
“The win against Concord Christian was big for us,” Oak Ridge coach Jeremy Gill said. “They beat us before and this time we beat them and we only played three innings.”
That win was also crucial for the Lady Wildcats because it set the tone for the entire week.
Makenzie Miller hurled a one-hit shutout and threw a three-inning complete game. She issued four walks and had five strikeouts. She also had a big day at the plate as she went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
Taylor Hensley went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and one RBI, while Kaylee Hickman was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. She also recorded a stolen base. Cambrie Hixson was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base.
Against the Lady Cougars, Oak Ridge posted a 10-5 victory as Morgan Perry had two hits, two runs and a stolen base. Miller went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Hensley went 1-for-3. She scored twice, drove in a run and stole a base. Brenna Bradshaw went 1-for-5 with a run and a stolen base.
In Thursday night’s victory over the Lady Jackets, Oak Ridge manufactured five runs despite coming up with just three hits. Perry, Gloria Rust and Emeilia McIlwain had singles in the contest.
In the circle, Hickman pitched a complete game, going seven innings. She gave up two runs (none earned) and four hits. She finished the contest with eight strikeouts.
“I think we only had three hits,” Gill said. “So we had to manufacture runs. There were a lot of bunts and a lot of small ball.
“This was a big week for us because it gave us a lot of momentum heading into the district tournament.”
The Lady Wildcats closed out the 2024 regular season with games at home against Oak Ridge Monday and at Webb School of Knoxville on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time.
Oak Ridge opens play in the District 3-4A Tournament Friday. The fifth-seeded Wildcats will take on No. 4 Knox Central at Powell High School. First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m.
Should inclement weather play a factor with Powell’s facility, Halls will serve as the alternative host.
Tournament seeds: No. 1 Halls; 2. Karns; 3. Powell; 4.Central; 5. Oak Ridge; 6. Campbell County.