Hiwassee Dam – The Lady Eagles almost didn’t finish the second part of their doubleheader against Copper Basin, Tenn.
Heading into the bottom of the fifth, the umpire said it would be the last inning because of darkness. That’s when Olivia McNabb decided to end things herself with a leadoff home run to give the Lady Eagles a 9-8 win and a 3-0 start to the 2022 season.
Hiwassee Dam beat the Lady Cougars 11-4 in the first game of the doubleheader and Cherokee by the same score two days earlier.
“That was exciting for the girls,” head coach Roger Adams said. “They really enjoyed that.”
The Lady Eagles graduated two key seniors last year, but return a lot from a team that finished third in the Smoky Mountain conference and qualified for the state playoffs shortened by COVID-19. Lauren Brooks, Payton Palmer and Rylie Payne are the team’s three seniors, with Payne returning to the sport after not playing last year.
Juniors Payton McNabb, Allison Stiles and Kiera Taylor were key contributors last year, and Adams expects them to do the same this year. Hiwassee Dam averaged 10.3 runs per game last year, and Adams thinks his offense will be potent again this season.
The Lady Eagles scored at least nine runs in their first three games, getting contributions up and down the lineup. After going down 4-2 against Cherokee, Payton McNabb hit a three-run homer to put Hiwassee Dam in front, and it rolled from there. Games against Copper Basin featured a more consistent approach instead of one big inning.
“The bottom of the order is just as dangerous as the top of the order,” Adams said. “We’ve got kids all the way through there who can hit and have for many years.”
Adams said he sees Brooks and Olivia McNabb getting most of the pitching duties, and they threw well last week. The biggest thing he wants to see improve is defense, as the Lady Eagles made some uncharacteristic mistakes against Copper Basin. That doesn’t dim his expectations for what he thinks the team can do this year.
“It’s a really good team, a great group of girls and I’m pleased to be coaching them,” Adams said. “They’ve shown me a lot of character already very early in the season.”
Hiwassee Dam played at Swain County on Tuesday, which took place after this week’s edition of the Cherokee Scout went to press. They host the Lady Devils on Friday.