Murphy – The April 18 contest at Murphy was the type of game Hiwassee Dam softball coach Roger Adams wants his team to thrive in. Neither team had much success at the plate and didn’t let mistakes lead to more mistakes.
The Lady Eagles did what they needed to at the right time, getting some timely hits and a strong performance from Olivia McNabb in the circle to come away with a 3-0 win.
“I like these games that were close,” Adams said. “It makes you see what your team is made of, and today they came out and played.”
Starting with a 13-12 loss April 17 against Tennessee 4A school Bradley Central (11-7-1), Hiwassee Dam (8-4 overall, 6-0 Smoky Mountain Conference) entered its toughest stretch of the season. It continued with an 8-7 loss to Murphy (8-5, 5-3) two days later, another game at Robbinsville (13-3, 8-0) after the Cherokee Scout’s press time Tuesday, a makeup road game at Swain County (9-7, 3-4) today and then a home game against the Lady Knights on Friday.
“Take them one game at a time,” Adams said. “But for us that we like that we’ve got these tough three weeks here to go play ball, however it folds out. Be ready for playoffs and seeing the quality of teams we’re going to see in the playoffs.”
Opportunities for runs were scarce, though Hiwassee Dam did better when given opportunities. After getting just one hit the first time through the order, leadoff hitter Kiera Taylor singled to left with two outs in the top of the third. She later stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball, coming around to score on an RBI double by Payton McNabb.
The Lady Eagles would add another run in the top of the fifth, then Brinkley Payne provided a big insurance run with a solo home run in the top of the seventh.
That was more than enough for Olivia McNabb in the circle. The sophomore didn’t allow a ball to get out of the infield until the sixth inning, and gave up just two hits, walked two batters and struck out seven.
The Lady Bulldogs had some chances in later innings, but couldn’t capitalize.
Aiden Smith led off the fifth with a walk, but was doubled up at first to end the inning after Ruby Boehm’s bunt attempt was caught by Payne. With a runner on the second and one out in the sixth, Gracie Rhodes made a diving catch at second to rob Jersey Schwalm of a potential base hit, then Riley Dockery flew out just a few feet from the center-field fence to end the inning.
“She’s a great pitcher,” Murphy head coach Billy Dockery said of McNabb. “Throws the ball hard. I think we finally got some timing in there at the end but we didn’t get the hits strung together to do it.”
In the rematch at Hiwassee Dam two days later, the Lady Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 lead early before the Lady Bulldogs used a five-run inning to pull within one. Murphy kept Hiwassee Dam’s offense to only run from there, adding three more runs to come away with a comeback win. Schwalm hit a two-run homer in the win.
The loss put a big dent into Hiwassee Dam’s conference title hopes. Two losses in their three games this week would eliminate them from contention, while beating Swain County and splitting with Robbinsville would keep their hopes alive. Three wins would put the Lady Eagles in first place.
Both Hiwassee Dam and Murphy are battling to stay home for the first round of the state playoffs, with the Lady Bulldogs the No. 14 seed and the Lady Eagles No. 16 entering this week, putting both teams narrowly on the right side of the hosting bubble.