Lady Dragons blast Cumberland Gap, eye postseason surge
The Clinton High School softball team experienced a week of mixed results, but closed it with an offensive explosion.
After dropping a 9-6 decision to crosstown rival Anderson County on Monday, April 14, the Lady Dragons fell 7-2 at home to Knoxville Halls on Wednesday, April 16.
Clinton, however, bounced back in dominant fashion, routing Cumberland Gap 17-1 in a District 4-AAA matchup Thursday night.
“We played well against Halls; we were down 3-2 and gave up a couple of big hits late,” Clinton Coach Leonard Sams said. “We have a young team. We’re so young, it’s crazy. We’re playing good teams like Halls and Gibbs, and we’re right there.
“We’re starting to get ready for the postseason now,” he said. “If this team can put everything together — and I think they can — we should be able to make a deep run.”
Against the Lady Devils, Taylor Sherwood went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Lynnlee Adkins had two hits and an RBI. Sara Bishop singled and scored a run.
The Lady Dragons (20-12 overall, 6-2 in the district) made quick work of Cumberland Gap, ending the game early with a 10-run fourth inning. Clinton scored four runs in the first, added one in the second and two in the third, and sealed it with the big fourth frame.
Freshman Bryana Holt led the offensive charge, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Elizabeth Maples matched that effort, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored.
Adkins continued her hot streak, with two hits, including a double, scoring three runs and driving in four.
Freshman Tegan Bunch singled and scored twice. Sherwood added a hit, two RBIs and a run scored.
“We’re really starting to hit the ball well right now,” Sams said.
“We’ve been hitting well, but we just haven’t hit really well when we’ve had runners on base.
“When there’s nobody on, we can hit the ball all day long.”
