The Greeneville softball team was able to do just a little bit more damage than North Greene on Thursday evening and wrapped up a busy week with a 5-4 win over the Lady Huskies.
“The girls played great today, and its been a great week. Overall, they did what they had to do to get a win, and I’m very proud of them,” Greeneville coach Lilly Million said.
The win was Greeneville’s fourth of the week and fifth in a row, and after a series of good wins over quality opponents Million is feeling good about her team. That included District 2-3A wins over Volunteer and Grainger, as well as wins over David Crockett and North Greene.
“I think we found our groove this week,” Million said. “We had been struggling figuring out what it took to get on base and to move runners, but this week we did a really good job of that. We had good pitching and good defense, and when all of that comes together it creates a really good turn of events. I’m super pleased with how things are going.”
The Lady Greene Devils were able to take the lead first on Friday with two runs in the first inning. Brylee Tullock started the day by skipping a leadoff single through the left side of the infield. She scored when Kaley Garland dropped a pop fly out of the reach of everyone behind first base.
A delay in handling the ball in the grass allowed Garland to reach second. From there Brooke Parsley scored her with two outs when she sent a hot shot down the third base line.
North Greene did not let that lead last long and scored three runs in the top of the second inning. Matti Phillips sparked things by sending a screamer over the glove of Tullock at second base. She ended up on third when the ball was mishandled in the grass.
Hannah Brooks laid down a sacrifice bunt and with a good break Phillips beat the throw back to the dish for the Lady Huskies’ first run.
With two outs Tralyn Southerland stepped into the box and she sent a missile over the fence in left-center that might have still been gaining altitude as it left the park. The two-run shot put North Greene in front 3-2.
Greeneville evened the score at 3-3 in the third inning. Baylee Ramsey led off the side by working a 10-pitch walk. She scored with two outs when Parsley sent a ball to centerfield that was dropped.
The game’s next 11 batters went down in order, before two big swings put Greeneville back in control. With two-outs in the fifth inning Garland flew one deep into left field that slammed high off the fence for a double.
On the next at bat Brynlee Jones flew one just a little bit further, sending a no-doubt, two-run home run over the fence in left-center field. The 5-3 lead proved to be enough for the Lady Devils to prevail.
“That was great from Brynlee,” Million said. “I can’t say I was surprised, that’s what she does, she’s just that kind of player. She steps up in big moments. I think she would tell you she was frustrated from some earlier at bats, but she used what she learned in those at bats and stepped up for us.”
The Lady Huskies tried to answer in the sixth and put the tying run on third. Addi Dean led off the side by narrowly beating out a bunt single. Eva Leonard put two runners in scoring position when she sent a line drive up the middle.
Jones took over on the rubber for Greeneville and retired the Lady Huskies final six batters in order, but a sacrifice fly by Charlie Turnmire scored Dean and drew North Greene a little closer at 5-4.
Jamie Jackson earned the win for Greeneville. In five innings she struck out six, walked none, and allowed five hits. Jones tossed the final two innings and earned the save. She struck out one, walked none and allowed no hits.
“Brynlee and Jamie both pitched phenomenal this week. This was probably both of their best weeks of the year,” Million said. “We know teams like North Greene are going to put the ball in play, but Jamie was dominating tonight. Then we brought Brynlee in to keep them off balance. Those two work well together and they compliment each other.”
Brooks took the loss for North Greene. In six innings she struck out 10, walked one and allowed five hits while giving up three earned runs.
At the plate Greeneville’s Garland was the top bat, going 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Jones had a two-run home run for Greeneville and Southerland had a two-run home run for North Greene.
