BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
Tug Valley’s softball team split a doubleheader in Boone County, West Virginia, before dropping a pair of games in Knoxville during spring break, finishing a four-game stretch with a 5-3 record.
The Lady Panthers, who entered the weekend unbeaten, opened Saturday, March 28 at Sherman High School in Boone County. They defeated the Greenbrier West Cavaliers 10-2 before suffering their first loss of the season to the host Sherman Tide 5-4.
Tug Valley then traveled to Knoxville, where the team fell 6-5 to Knoxville Christian High School on Monday, March 30. The Lady Panthers dropped an 11-1 decision to the tough Knoxville Halls High School Lady Devils.
Tug Valley’s best showing of the stretch came in the opener against Greenbrier West when Bailee Hall fired a no-hitter in a 10-2 victory.
Hall struck out nine, walked one and allowed only two unearned runs in the win.
At the plate, Hall and Gracie Hynd each doubled. Katie Hall and Caylee Steele each singled and drove in a run, while Bryleigh Fletcher also knocked in a run.
The nightcap against Sherman handed the Lady Panthers their first defeat of the season 5-4.
Bailee Hall paced Tug Valley offensively by going 3 for 4 with two doubles. Katie Hall finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs, while Hynd and Makayle Bryant each added a single, but Sherman held on for the 5-4 win.
The road trip continued in Knoxville, where Tug Valley dropped a one-run decision to a good Knoxville Christian team.
The Lady Panthers fell 6-5 to Knoxville Christian High School on Monday, March 30, despite two-hit performances from both Bailee Hall and Katie Hall. Bailee Hall’s hits included a double and a triple.
Emma Lackey took the tough pitching loss, striking out 10 batters and walking four.
Tug Valley closed the trip with an 11-1 loss to Knoxville Halls.
Bailee Hall accounted for the Lady Panthers’ lone run with a home run and also took the loss in the circle. Katie Hall had two hits, including a double, while Gracie Hynd and Makayle Bryant each added singles.
For Knoxville Halls, H. Bates led the Lady Devils with four hits, including a double, while A. Wilson earned the win in the circle.