In a four-game week, the Hiwassee Dam softball team scored a combined 27 runs to sweep Hayesville.
In between their home-and-home series with Hayesville, the Lady Eagles traveled to Franklin and fell in a doubleheader.
To kick off their four-game week, the Lady Eagles defeated Hayesville 16-3 on March 18. The Lady Eagles started with two runs in the top of the first to grab an early lead.
After a scoreless second inning, the Lady Eagles got back to work at the plate with seven runs in the top of the third. Hayesville scored one run in the bottom of the third, but the Lady Eagles still led 9-1.
The Lady Eagles added one more run in the top of the fourth. Hayesville scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth to trail 10-3.
In the top of the fifth, the Lady Eagles piled on six more runs, then shut down the Lady Yellow Jackets to end the game in the fifth inning and win 16-3.
Brinkley Payne led the Lady Eagles with three runs. Olivia Williams, Abby Harris, Olivia McNabb and Sky Taylor all had two runs each. Avery McNabb, Brooklyn Hyde, Kalli Hagelin, Josey Ware and Bella Stiles had one run each.
Gracie Rhodes – as well as Avery McNabb, Hyde, Williams, Harris and Taylor – had one stolen base each.
Pitching duties were split between Olivia McNabb, Williams and Harris. McNabb pitched the first two innings, giving up no hits or runs and striking out six of the seven batters she faced. Williams pitched the third inning, giving up one run on two walks with no hits and three strikeouts.
To close out the game, Harris made her high school pitching debut in innings four and five, giving up two runs on one hit with three walks and five strikeouts.
After their big win against Hayesville, Lady Eagles head coach Chet Kendall said, “Sky Taylor swung the bat well, Avery McNabb swung the bat well, and then I have not gotten to see Abby Harris throw and I’ve heard a lot about her, so I got to see her throw today.”
Speaking on their doubleheader against Franklin on March 19 and their second meeting with Hayesville on Friday, Kendall said, “The good thing about today is that Olivia McNabb threw well, so she didn’t have to throw much. She’ll be ready to go at least seven [innings] tomorrow (in the doubleheader against Franklin).”
The following day, the Lady Eagles traveled to Franklin for a doubleheader. The Lady Eagles fell in both five-inning games on March 19.
In their second game of the week and the first of the doubleheader, they lost 5-1.
In their third game of the week and the second of the doubleheader, they lost 8-2.
To wrap up their four-game week, the Lady Eagles defeated Hayesville 11-1 at home to complete the sweep.
The Lady Eagles’ bats got going from the start, allowing them to build a big lead early Friday.
They scored two runs in each of the first two innings to lead 4-0 before adding six more runs in the third innings to lead 10-0 through three innings.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Hayesville got on the board with one run. The Lady Eagles held them to only one run to lead 10-1 and only needed one run to end the game in the bottom of the fifth.
The Lady Eagles were able to drive home the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game, completing the sweep.
At 4:30 p.m. Friday, the Lady Eagles will host Robbinsville. At 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, they will host Cherokee.