The Greeneville softball team celebrated senior night in a big way on Monday night as it collected a multitude of big hits on the way to a 13-1 win over West Greene.
“This was a super great evening, and it was special to get to honor four seniors who have worked so hard,” Greeneville coach Lilly Million said. “I’m really proud of the way they came out ready to play from the very first pitch. That’s all I can ask for, and it ended up just the way we wanted it. What a great evening!”
As a team Greeneville pounded out 17 hits in less than four innings. All nine batters in the starting lineup earned a hit and seven batters earned multiple hits. Kaley Garland led the way by going 3-for-3 with a home run, double, four RBIs and three runs scored.
“The girls were ready to hit today, and they jumped on pitches early,” Million said. “We didn’t want to get deep in the count and they attacked early. We were also stringing hits together throughout the lineup and that carried us today. We had girls that have never started a varsity game earn their first hit. One through nine they came ready to play.”
The Lady Devils did not waste any time getting the scoring started, and after Jamie Jackson sat down West Greene in order the top of the first inning with two strikeouts Greeneville’s offense quickly plated seven runs.
Garland started the day by working a walk and Kyla Jobe sent a line drive to left field that scored the day’s first run. The Lady Devils went on to earn a total of seven hits from seven different players in the frame.
Destani Bailey pushed across the next run on a sacrifice fly to center field and Addie Lamons increased the lead to 4-0 when she sent a two-run shot to left field. Senior Ansley Shelton knocked in Lamons with a line drive to right field that earned her the first hit of her varsity career.
Garland came up for the second time in the side and sent a double to the warning track in centerfield. Baylee Ramsey hit into an infield error to score the final run of the frame as Greeneville claimed a 7-0 lead.
In the second inning the Lady Buffs put two aboard on a walk and an error, but Jackson struck out the next three batters to end the threat.
Jackson had a strong day in the circle and did not allow a hit until the fourth inning. She struck out eight, walked two and allowed two hits in a four-inning complete game.
“Jamie was working all sides of the plate well. That’s what we need from her, to spin the ball well,” Million said. “She got ahead of batters. When she gets behind it can be more difficult to come back, but tonight she worked ahead and got outs.”
The Lady Devils’ lead grew to 12-0 in the second inning. Brynlee Jones started things by splitting the right-center gap with a leadoff double. Brooke Parsley scored her on a line drive to left field.
Jamie Jackson loaded the bases by landing a pop up in shallow left field. Shelton hit into a groundout that pushed the lead to 9-0. Garland scored two more when she skipped a ground ball by the third baseman, and Jobe hit into an error in right field that allowed Garland to score.
West Greene got on the board in the top of the fourth inning started by Kaylee Willett who sent a line drive over second base for the Lady Buffs’ first hit. With two outs Amanda Owens put a single into right field and when the ball was misplayed in the grass it allowed Willett to make it all the way around the base path before avoiding the tag at the plate.
Garland ended the game in the bottom of the fourth by run rule when she sailed a solo home run over the fence in centerfield.
Morgan Brown took the loss for West Greene. In 3 1/3 innings she struck out three, walked one and allowed 17 hits.
In addition to Garland’s big day for Greeneville Jobe was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Jones and Parsley were both also 2-for-3 with a double. Ramsey went 2-for-3 with one RBI, and Bailey was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Jackson was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Greeneville has one more regular season game on Wednesday with Jefferson County before the District 2-3A Tournament begins next week. West Greene will finish the regular season with University High on Tuesday and North Greene on Thursday.
“We have to carry this momentum into the postseason. I feel like we are on a hot streak right now and playing the best ball we have played all year. We have to be prepared for whoever we face, and we have to be ready to win,” Million said.
