Fast start fuels Lady Mavericks
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Anderson County pitcher Cindle Justice delivers to the plate during the Lady Mavericks’ home game against Lakeway Christian Academy on Thursday. Justice tossed a complete game and faced 24 batters. - Tony Cox
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Anderson County’s Ashton Thurmon makes solid con- tact at the plate during the Lady Mavericks’ home game against Lakeway Christian Academy. Thurmon singled and drove in a run in the bottom of the third inning and finished with multiple hits in a 14-4 victory over the Lady Lions. - Tony Cox
Prior to opening the 2026 season, Anderson County High School Coach Lindsey Verner made it no secret that she had lofty expectations for her Lady Mavericks softball squad.
“Last year, we went somewhere we haven’t been in 23 years, and that was the region tournament,” Verner said before opening the 2026 campaign. “This year, we want to do better and go further than we did last year.”
The coach has to like what she’s seen from her team out of the gate this season.
The Lady Mavericks were the last area team to open their regular season, but they’re off to a fast start, winning each of their first four games in impressive fashion.
They closed out the inaugural week of their campaign with an 11-3 victory over Stone Memorial Friday night.
Anderson County had four extra-base hits against the Lady Panthers, all doubles.
Cindle Justice had three hits, including a pair of doubles, and drove in three runs. Alli McKamey went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Bella Brummett was 1-for-1 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Justice started in the circle and pitched five innings. She allowed three runs on 10 hits, struck out five and walked one before giving way to Addison Grooms.
Grooms threw two scoreless innings. She walked one and recorded one strikeout.
On Thursday, the Lady Mavericks routed Wartburg Central in five innings as Grooms tossed a complete game. She yielded two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five.
Leadoff hitter Alice Ogan set the table Thursday as she went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. McKamey had two hits and drove in a run.
Brummett had two hits, including a double, and knocked in two runs. Justice and Kara Waddell each had two hits and combined for three RBIs. Each also scored a run. Miranda McCracken doubled, scored and drove in a run.
In a 14-4 victory over Lakeway Christian, Ashton Thurman, Varner and Rilynn Benson each recorded multiple hits, while Justice threw a complete game in the circle.
In the season opener, a 12-2 victory over Oliver Springs, Marlea Finstad hit a home run, McKamey had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs, while Justice was 2-for-2 with four RBIs.
Verner said she couldn’t have asked for a better start.
“So far, so good,” she said. “We had some solid pitching.
“Last year, we had trouble getting timely hits, but this year, that hasn’t been a problem so far,” she said.
