Hiwassee Dam – Heavy hitting and pristine pitching has the Hiwassee Dam Lady Eagles flying high early in the shortened softball season, but after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of last year’s spring sports season, coach Roger Adams is just happy that his players are able to take the field and play some softball this season.
“It’s been very, very nice to see the girls be able to go out and have fun playing the sport that they love and enjoy,” Adams said. “And it’s been exciting to see the growth with our team in just short time of playing this season. This group has been together for quite some time and they work very well together; everybody knows their job on the team and they go out and do it.”
Hiwassee Dam opened the season with a pair of victories in a double-header with Rosman on Mar. 19.
The following day, Hiwassee Dam dropped their lone game of the season to Robbinsville by a score of 12-8 on March 20 with seven of the Lady Black Knights’ runs having been tallied in the fourth inning.
The following week, the Lady Eagles traveled to Andrews for another double-header, handling the Lady Wildcats for another pair of victories and on Friday, Hiwassee Dam picked up their fifth win of the season against the Cherokee Lady Braves.
“The girls are relaxed and they’re hitting,” Hiwassee Dam coach Roger Adams said of the Lady Eagles’ strong opening to the season.
“Hitting very well and putting runs on the board. The Robbinsville game we had one bad inning on defense, but take that inning and change it around a bit and we’re in that game right there until the end. One thing about this team is that they never give up, they just stay battling and fight til the end.”
A major component of the Lady Eagles’ strong opening to the season has been the success of their pitching rotation, highlighted by junior Lauren Brooks and senior Katie Gibson.
“We have a great tandem there with Lauren and Katie being the main ones at the helm,” Adams said of his pitching rotation this season. “They complement each other very well so that we can attack other teams with two completely different style of pitchers and both can be very
effective. And that’s been the big thing, they’ve both gone out and been very effective when it’s been their time on the mound this season. I feel that we’ve got a staff that can compete with any team.”
While the Lady Eagles’ pitchers have been handling other team’s hitters, Hiwassee Dam’s lineup has been harrassing opposing pitchers and putting runs on the board for Adams.
“These girls have all been solid hitters for a long time and just keep improving and getting better,” Adams said. “What has been really good about this year is how deep we’re hitting in the lineup. I mean, one through nine is hitting and doing their job even if it’s just moving runners and getting them into scoring position. We’ve got a lot of power, very strong hitters and I expect us to keep hitting well, if not get better.”
With the all sports seasons being shortened this year because of the delayed start to the calander, Adams knows that each game is going to be pivitol in a tight Smoky Mountain Conference playoff race that will likely be decided by a handful of games.
“Every game, we’re preparing as if we’re playing the best team in the conference and we have to win, that’s the bottom line – winning,” Adams said. “Every single game. We can’t afford to slack off on any team in this conference because they’ll come back and bite you.”
Hiwassee Dam (5-1) traveled to face the Hayesville (2-5) Tuesday after the Cherokee Scout’s press deadline.