The Greeneville softball team celebrated senior night in style on Friday by taking down South Greene 10-0.
“We came ready to play. It’s a special day for everyone and there were a lot emotions, but we put all of that aside to play a good game,” Greeneville coach Lilly Million said. “Our bats got going as the game went on and the girls made the right adjustments. I think they played great. This is a special group of five seniors. They all play different key roles, and it was good to see them play well on senior night.”
After a day that saw seven Lady Devils produce 11 hits while the defense played error free and the pitching staff allowed just three hits coach Million is feeling good about her team with the district tournament just over a week away.
“The chemistry is really good with this team,” Million said. “They are starting to bond and rely on each other and that is so important. I’m super thrilled with where we are right now. We have big week next week and then we start toward the district championship. I’m excited for it.”
Greeneville got Friday started by jumping in front 2-0 in the first inning. Brylee Tullock led off the side by skipping a groundball past the third baseman. Baylee Ramsey then laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Tullock to go from first to third. Tullock scored the first run of the night on a passed ball.
All evening Greeneville was aggressive on the base path, and its ability to take extra bases proved pivotal in building its lead.
Brynlee Jones knocked in Greeneville’s second run on a line drive she sent deep into left field. It was the only extra-base hit of the night.
South Greene’s best chance to score came in the top of the first inning. Whitney Reaves laid down a bunt on the first pitch of the contest. Kortnei Bailey sent a soft ball back to the circle, but Reaves beat throw to second base.
South Greene thought it put two runners in scoring position when Paisley Brobeck lofted a sacrifice fly to deep right field. After the ball came to rest the play was appealed and Reaves was taken off third base on the highly questionable call that she did not tag up. Four pitches later Jones struck out Hailey Williamson to end the threat.
Greeneville added five runs in third inning to take command of the game.
Kaley Garland led off the side by legging out an infield single. Jones moved her up and she reached third by beating the ball to the bag on a groundball from Brooke Parsley. Garland scored when Gabby Atchison was hit by a pitch.
Jamie Jackson hit into fielders choice that caught Parsely at third, but allowed Jones to score. Kinslee Lewandowski was out on a line drive back up the middle, but the throw to third in attempt to double off Atchison missed, allowing the lead to grow to 5-0.
Katie Johnson knocked in the next run on a line drive to right field, and she scored when Tullock sent a line drive to left field.
In the fifth inning Lewandowski scored on a bases-loaded walk and Parsley pushed across Ramsey when she skipped a single down the third-base line to increase the lead to 9-0.
In the sixth inning Jackson beat out a single to the shortstop and Johnson knocked her in on a line drive to left field to end the game by run rule.
In the circle Jones earned the win. In five innings she struck out eight, walked two and allowed two hits. Jackson threw one inning with one walk and one hit allowed.
“Brynlee did what she always does,” Million said. “Her velocity was up and she was working both sides of the plate. She made the right adjustments inning to inning. One inning it was heavy change up and the next was heavy curveball. She switched things up well tonight.”
Bailey took the loss for South Grenee. In 5 1/3 innings she struck out five, walked four and allowed 11 hits.
Tullock led Greeneville’s offense by going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Jones was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Johnson was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Parsley was 2-for-4 with and RBI.
For South Greene Reaves earned two hits.
