Lady Mavs fall to Grace Christian 2-0
Anderson County High School’s softball team faced early challenges in its 2025 season opener last week.
The Lady Mavericks managed just four hits in a 2-0 loss during a classic early-season pitchers’ duel on the road against Knoxville’s Grace Christian Academy.
The Lady Rams, one of East Tennessee’s top Division II-A teams, lived up to their reputation on Tuesday, March 4.
“They’ll definitely be in the postseason,” Anderson County Coach Lindsey Verner said. “They have a great pitcher.”
Verner was making her debut as the Lady Mavericks’ coach.
Grace Christian pitcher Brooke Million delivered a strong performance, throwing a complete game.
She allowed five hits and six walks, while striking out six Lady Mavericks.
“We had a lot of strikeouts,” Verner said. “And we just couldn’t get the key hits.”
Despite the loss, the Lady Mavericks had a solid defensive showing, committing no errors in the game.
The pitching staff also was impressive.
Freshman Cindle Justice started and pitched one inning, allowing one run and three hits in her high school pitching debut.
“I thought Cindle did a good job starting us off,” Verner said. “I think they were on to her because she pitched against them in a scrimmage that we had.”
Justice handed the ball to sophomore Addison Grooms, who had just joined the team after basketball season.
Grooms pitched five innings of relief, giving up one run on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
“Addison came in and pitched really well,” Verner said.
Senior centerfielder and leadoff hitter Kaycee Baldwin led Anderson County’s offense, going 1-for-1 with a triple, three walks, and a stolen base.
The Lady Mavericks stole four bases in total, with Kara Waddell swiping two and Ashton Thurman adding one.
Catcher Alli McKamey went 2-for-4, while Waddell contributed two hits.
Grace Christian took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double by Ava Malone, which scored leadoff hitter Hayden Hill after her single.
The Lady Rams extended their lead to 2-0 with a scoring double by Hannah Hodges in the bottom of the third.
The Lady Mavericks will continue their season at the Gulf Shores Classic during spring break.
They played Beech High School on Monday, but results were not available at press time.
