Anderson County blanks district foes, stumbles late at Grainger
Anderson County High School’s softball team picked up a pair of District 4-AAA victories last week, winning two of three games behind dominant pitching and explosive offense.
The Lady Mavericks (13-7 overall, 2-2 in District 4-AAA) were rained out on Monday, March 31, but returned to the field the next day with authority, routing Scott 15-0 in three innings.
Freshman Cindle Justice and sophomore Addison Grooms combined for a no-hitter in the circle. Justice pitched the first two innings and struck out three, while Grooms fanned the side in the third to seal the shutout.
Senior leadoff hitter and centerfielder Kaycee Baldwin went 1-for-3 with a triple, a stolen base, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Justice helped her own cause at the plate, finishing 2-for-2 with three RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base.
Reece Bock belted two triples and scored three runs. Bella Brummett doubled, stole a base, scored twice and drove in a run. Alli McKamey added a double and a run scored.
On Thursday, Anderson County traveled to Cumberland Gap and came away with a 10-0 five-inning victory over the Lady Panthers.
Grooms tossed a one-hit shutout, striking out two in five innings of work, while the Lady Mavericks racked up 12 hits, including a six-run outburst in the first.
Baldwin had a perfect day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Maci Benge added a 2-for-3 performance, driving in three runs and scoring once.
The week ended on a sour note Friday with a 9-4 loss at Grainger, where Anderson County struggled defensively.
“I was really proud of the girls for the way they played against Scott County and Cumberland Gap,” Lady Mavericks Coach Lindsey Verner said.
“ I thought those games were complete team efforts — the way we pitched, played defense and hit. Against Grainger, we had a game full of mental and physical errors.
“We had nine errors in the book, and then we had seven, eight or nine mental errors. I know they know better, but it was just one of those days.”
