Hiwassee Dam – The Lady Eagles’ softball team swept Hayesville last week to remain undefeated in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
In the first meeting between Hiwassee Dam and the Lady Yellow Jackets, the Lady Eagles got the 12-2 win on March 27. The game started with both teams scoring a run in the first inning.
The Lady Jackets took a one-run lead in the top of the fourth, but the Lady Eagles quickly tied the game with a home run from Katie McNabb.
The Lady Eagles’ offense broke loose and scored eight runs in the fifth inning. They added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to punctuate their 12-2 win.
The Lady Eagles had 12 runs on 13 hits and no errors. Katie McNabb led the team by going 4-4 at the plate and scored two runs. She had a home run, a double and three RBI. She was a triple away from hitting for the cycle.
Katie McNabb, Brinkley Payne, Olivia Williams and Olivia McNabb also had two runs scored. Olivia McNabb had two stolen bases, while Avery McNabb, Sky Taylor and Payne had one.
Olivia McNabb pitched a complete game, allowing three hits and two runs in six innings. She dealt 12 strikeouts and only walked three batters.
After the game, Lady Eagles head coach Chet Kendall said the defense and pitching stood out to him. Olivia and Katie McNabb both stood out, but he added that several other players made offensive and defensive contributions to the win.
On Thursday, the Lady Eagles got another high-scoring win against Hayesville, 20-6.
The Lady Eagles got the scoring going early and didn’t look back. They scored four runs in the first inning and didn’t give up a run to the Lady Jackets until the bottom of the third.
By that time, they had a 6-1 lead. The Lady Eagles’ highest-scoring inning was the fifth, when they scored seven runs en route to a 20-6 win.
Katie McNabb yet again had a good showing at the play by going 4-4 with three runs scored, three RBI and two doubles. Olivia McNabb and Taylor also scored three runs, while Payne went 3-5 at the plate.
Payne scored two runs and had four RBI, as well as two doubles and a triple. Olivia McNabb had three stolen bases, while Williams had two. Avery McNabb, Katie McNabb and Josey Ware each had one stolen base.
At press time, the Lady Eagles are in third place in the Smoky Mountain Conference with a 3-0 conference record and 3-2 overall record.
This week, they take on Murphy, the top team in the conference. The game is Friday at Murphy, with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m.