“Always expect the unexpected,” is ones of the oldest sayings in sports. That held true in the District 1-2A softball tournament Monday evening. After falling to Chuckey-Doak twice in the regular season West Greene was dominant in an elimination game in Lower Afton, collecting a 16-0 victory.
The West Greene Lady Buffaloes put it all together and played their best game of the season. The Lady Buffaloes got a great performance in the circle from Abby Cluesman, in one-hitter. West Greene had had two inning-ending double-plays on defense and banged out 13 hits at the plate.
West Greene coach coach Clinton Haun said, “It was a great job out here, especially when the bottom, the eight and nine hitters, had six RBIs. That’s a good day! Top to bottom we did a great job, limited our mistakes in the field and Abby pitched a great game. I knew they had the capability to play games like this all along.”
West Greene’s Autumn Carter beat out an infield hit to leadoff the game. Cluesman sac-bunted her to second, she then went to third on a fly ball and scored on a wild pitch. The Lady Buff were up 1-0 midway through the first inning.
In the second inning Aubree Everett reached on an error for West Greene. Abagale Jackson singled to right sending Everett to third and Jackson’s took second on the throw. Amanda Owens picked up an RBI with a fielder’s choice.
Carter the slapped a single into short right field for an RBI scoring Jackson. Owens would later score on a throwing error, and the Lady Buffs were up 4-0 heading to the bottom of he second inning, where Cluesman sat down the Lady Knights in order.
The Lady Buffs erupted for five runs in the top of the third. Alexis Cutshall walked to leadoff the inning. Kaylee Willett hit a solid single up the middle before Everett’s RBI double scored Cutshall. Jackson drew a walk to load the bases. Owens was hit by a pitch to score Willett and Everett scored on a fielder choice. With the bases still loaded Cluesman walked to score Jackson and Owens scored when Cutshall walked with the bases loaded.
Myers came in to pitch for the Lady Knights and got the final out before any more damage could be done, but the Lady Buffs were up 9-0 midway through three innings. In the bottom half Cluesman struck out Jessie Dayton and Myers reached on error, but a tailor made 6-4-3 double play ended the inning.
The Lady Buffs added two more runs in the fourth. Everett singled, stole second, went to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. Miranda Hunter reached on an error and scored when Owens doubled off the fence in left field and an 11-0 lead.
The Lady Buffaloes added five more insurance runs in the top of the fifth for a 16-0 advantage and all that was left was to see if Cluesman could finish the no-hitter. Hayden Kenney hit a comebacker that Cluesman handled all by herself. Dayton then hit a hard ground ball that was ruled a hit to spoil Cluesman’s no-no. Cluesman managed to get the next two batters to persevere the shutout, 16-0 was the final.
Cluesman only allowed one hit, walked two and struck out five to earn the win.
Carter led the Lady Buffs at the plate with four hits while Everett followed with three and Owens and Victoria Ramsey each had three RBI’s. Dayton had the lone hit for the Lady Black Knights.
West Greene will be back in action on Tuesday at Unicoi County in the Tournament semifinals.
Chuckey-Doak ends the year with a 10-21 record.
