Clinch clinched
Lady Mavericks outduel rival Clinton to close tourney
Kaycee Baldwlin slides into home plate during Anderson County’s 14-4 win over Eagleton. Baldwin had four runs and an RBI for the Lady Mavericks during the Saturday afternoon game against the visiting Lady Royals. (photo:Tony Cox )
The two-day event was co-hosted by the Lady Mavericks and Lady Dragons.
The Lady Mavericks (10-4) were led by senior centerfielder and leadoff hitter Kaycee Baldwin, who went 2-for-3 and scored twice. Marlea Finstad added a 2-for-4 effort with a run scored.
Addison Grooms picked up the win in the circle for Anderson County. She pitched six innings, allowing two runs on 13 hits and four walks, while striking out three.
Freshman Cindle Justice came on in relief in the seventh and notched the save with two strikeouts.
“Cindle is doing well,” Lady Mavericks Coach Lindsey Verner said. “She does a good job when she’s called upon.
“Addy pitched well, but Clinton had seen her three or four times,” Verner said.
“They were starting to get to her, and they hadn’t really seen Cindle unless it was in middle school. That was a great game. We played well, and Clinton played well. I was proud of our girls, and I was proud of Clinton.”
Clinton (5-3) was scheduled to host Anderson County on Tuesday to open District 4-AAA play. Results were not available at press time, but Verner made it clear her team needed to stay sharp.
“I told the girls after the game that we were going to have a big target on our backs,” she said. “As far as the tournament goes, I think it went well for both Clinton and us.
“I want to thank the teams and fans for coming out and supporting us,” Verner said. “We had the one game against Coalfield — the game we lost — where we didn’t hit the ball as well as I know we can, but we bounced back against Clinton and hit the ball the way I knew we could.”
The Lady Mavericks opened tournament play Friday with a 5-2 win over Hardin Valley Academy, rallying after falling behind with five unanswered runs.
Hallie Hooks went 1-for-3 with a triple, an RBI, and a run scored. Kara Wadell tripled, scored, and drove in a run.
In its next game, Anderson County downed Oliver Springs 12-4, notching four extra-base hits. Hooks and Miranda McCracken each doubled, while Baldwin and Justice both tripled. Baldwin had two hits and scored twice.
On Saturday, the Lady Mavericks fell to Coalfield 6-4, but rebounded with a 12-4 win over Eagleton before edging Clinton in the finale.
Earlier in the week, Anderson County also notched a pair of non-tournament wins.
The Lady Mavericks shut out Oak Ridge 4-0 on Monday, March 17, and beat Wartburg Central 2-1 the following day.
