Ward smashes homer in 3rd inning   

By T. Wampler, JPI Sports

The Lady Raiders shutout the Lady Colonels 20-0 in 5 innings last week at Caverna High School. Coach Peter Distefano and Coach Caitlyn Smith both enter their second season leading their respective softball programs, and both coaches have made great strides in coaching fundamentals and growing their programs.

On this afternoon, it was the Lady Raiders that dominated the Lady Colonels, but both teams showed hustle and both teams showed why they are well-coached. Yes, Caverna had several errors and few hits, but they were keenly aware of  “situation softball.”

The Lady Colonels did not make all the plays, but they backed each other up and knew where to throw the ball. Caverna played hard for all 5 innings and encouraged each other even as the score mounted against them. A few costly errors contributed to the lop-sided score, but give the Lady Raiders credit too. HCHS ran the bases with abandon and played nearly flawless defence while banging out 15 hits.

Madilyn Ward doubled and Nevaeh Haskins singled in the first inning to help plate 1 run and a 1 -0 lead, the score after 2 innings.

Hart County had several hard hits including a shot over the fence by senior Madilyn Ward. Ward hit a “no-doubt, 2-run homer” over the left field fence in the top of the 3rd inning. The Lady Raiders led the Lady Colonels 1-0 heading into the third, but when the dust had settled, HCHS took a 8-0 lead.

Three Caverna errors and two walks helped the Lady Raiders’ cause, but Hart County also had 2 other hits in the inning by Haskins and Lyla Thompson.

The 4th inning was also troublesome for the home team. Senior Brooke Puckett singled after a Caverna error to open the inning. Senior Sarah Gardner singled, and after a walk, Faith Ruiz hit a line drive, but it hit a HCHS baserunner for an out. Ward and Haskins also singled in the inning to help HCHS build a 14-0 lead.

HCHS tacked on 4 more runs in the top of 5th. Chloe Tweedy, Abby Rose Roten, Ward (2B), Thompson, and Gardner (3B) had hits in the fifth. Ruiz had a sweet bunt for a base hit to help the Lady Raiders to the 20-0 victory.

Allie Bussell pitched a complete game and picked up the win. Bussell gave up 2 hits, struck out 6, and walked 2 batters. Shay Martin and Dalliah Woods had the hits for the Lady Colonels. Summer Sallee took the loss for Caverna. Sallee struck out 2 and walked 5 batters.