Murphy – In its first conference test of the season, Murphy softball passed with flying colors. The Lady Bulldogs took two against Swain County, 21-11 in Bryson City and 9-2 in Konehete Park.
“I can see the confidence and morale going up,” Dockery said. “Every time they win, I think they see, ‘Hey, we can do this.’ They just grow a little bit every game.”
The Lady Devils (0-4 overall, 0-2 Smoky Mountain Conference) were one of four conference teams to make last year’s smaller playoff field, though they graduated top pitcher Stacey Griggs. The first game was sloppy on both sides. Murphy (3-0, 2-0) jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the Lady Devils answered back with five runs in the third to take the lead.
The Lady Bulldogs scored six in the fourth, four in the fifth and then seven in the sixth before Swain plated six in the bottom of the sixth. Still, it was enough for a six inning, mercy rule win.
The second game was much cleaner on both sides. After relieving Jersey Schwalm in the game in Bryson City, Julia Dockery started in the rematch as Schwalm was out with a back injury. Dockery walked eight in the first game, but looked much more composed in the second.
Despite some command issues at times, she was able to work them. She allowed five hits, six walks and struck out seven in a complete-game win. Dockery wasn’t able to pitch last year because of a knee injury, so the two games against Swain was her return to the mound.
“She’s been down for a while, and it showed Tuesday at Swain,” Billy Dockery said. “Had a lot of walks Tuesday at Swain.
“Tonight, I think she came in and cleaned it up. I think it was mental more than physical. She just had to get her mental game her back.”
After Dockery stranded two runners in the top of the first by striking out Faith Woodard, Murphy went to work in the bottom of the inning. Dockery led off with a single, and Ansley Hogsed walked.
Both moved up a base on a wild pitch, and an RBI single by Riley Dockery put the Lady Bulldogs on the board. Sanai Wilson scored another with a sacrifice bunt, then Taryn Morrow drove in two with a double into left.
Swain County would get one back in the second, and Riley Dockery would push Murphy’s lead to 5-1 with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning. Julia Dockery would help herself in the third with a solo homer, and Riley would match her sister with a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth that gave the Lady Bulldogs a 9-1 lead.
The sisters have homered in each of Murphy’s first two home games. Against the Lady Devils, they combined for seven of Murphy’s nine hits and scored six runs.
The Lady Bulldogs have their toughest test of the young season this week against Robbinsville (3-1, 1-0). The Lady Knights were the preseason conference favorites, and opened conference play with an 11-3 win over Hayesville on March 15. Robbinsville is a more veteran team than Murphy as well, with seven seniors in its starting lineup compared to just one on the Lady Bulldogs’ roster.
It’s a challenge Billy Dockery thinks his team is ready for.
“Robbinsville’s obviously going to be one of our toughest tests,” he said. “Especially early. We’ll see a lot of excited energy from the team, ready to play.”