Lady ’Cats softball finds early rhythm with explosive bats
Morgan Perry hits a single during the Lady Wildcats’ home meeting with Hardin Valley Academy on Friday night, March 7. Perry had two hits against Concord Christian School, and was 3-for-3 against Harriman earlier in the week. (photo:Tony Cox )
The Lady Wildcats won two of their first three games, scoring 27 runs against Harriman, Concord Christian School, and Hardin Valley Academy.
“We had a good week,” said Gill, in his second season as Oak Ridge’s head coach.
“We got a win against Harriman, and we played well against Concord Christian,” he said. “Those games were against average pitching.”
The Lady Wildcats (2-1) suffered their first loss of the season Friday night, falling 6-1 to the Lady Hawks.
Despite the defeat, Gill remained upbeat.
“The game against Hardin Valley was probably the best game that we’ve played,” Gill said. “We got eight hits. They’re a good team, and they have a really good pitcher. We had an error that cost us two runs, and then they had a bloop hit and scored two more.”
Lady Hawks pitcher Elsie Hatcher allowed a run in the bottom of the first inning as freshman Emmerson Bradshaw delivered an RBI single to score her older sister, Brenna, tying the game at 1-1.
Brenna Bradshaw went 3-for-4, and Amiyah King had two hits against Hatcher, who got 12 strikeouts.
On Thursday, the Lady Wildcats hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to Farragut. Oak Ridge put on its best offensive display yet, routing the Lady Lions 18-6 in just four innings.
The Lady Wildcats pounded out 22 hits in the contest. Leah Curran led the charge, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Oak Ridge scored seven times in the top of the first inning alone.
Brenna Bradshaw, Amiyah King, Emmerson Bradshaw and Taylor Hensley each had three hits. Hensley doubled, drove in five runs, and scored twice.
Aliyah San Nicolas added two doubles and two RBIs, and scored twice, while Morgan Perry contributed two hits, including a double.
Emmerson Bradshaw earned the win in the circle, throwing a four-inning complete game. She allowed six runs (two earned) on 11 hits, walked one, and struck out six.
The Lady Wildcats opened the 2025 campaign with a 7-6 victory over Harriman on Monday, March 3.
Perry went 3-for-3 with an RBI against the Lady Devils, while King was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored.
Brenna and Emmerson Bradshaw each doubled, scored, and drove in a run.
Kaylee Hickman was the winning pitcher, tossing a complete game.
She surrendered six runs (two earned) on eight hits, walked one, and struck out nine.
Oak Ridge played Lenoir City on Tuesday, but results were unavailable at press time.
The Lady Wildcats are set to open District 3-4A play at home against Knoxville Central, with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
They are also slated to face Coalfield on Friday, but Gill said the game would be rescheduled due to the Lady Jackets’ participation in the state basketball tournament in Murfreesboro.
