BY MARK BROOKS
“Workhorse” is the word North Greene softball coach Avery Weems used to describe Hannah Brooks’ performance inside the circle on Tuesday night in the District 1-1A Tournament semifinals.
For the second consecutive day Brooks went the distance and had double digit strikeouts. She was nearly unhittable in a 10-3 win over Cloudland in Baileyton.
“Hannah threw the ball real well, she came back on only a day’s rest, it’s great to see that out of her and knowing you have that night in and night out,” said Weems.
Brooks struck out the side in the top of the first inning and knocked in two runs in the bottom half. Loren Blevins beat out an infield single and Matti Phillips drew a walk. The duo then pulled off the double steal to put themselves in scoring position.
Brooks singled through the hole on the left side, scoring both Blevins and Phillips. Brooks took second on the throw and the Lady Huskies had a quick 2-0 lead. Heidi Trentham then looped a single over the first baseman’s head scoring Brooks for run number three.
Brooks struck out the side for the second consecutive inning, sandwiched around an error and a couple of wild pitches that allowed the Lady Highlanders score a run.
Both teams went down in order in the third inning.
In the top of the fourth Brooks caught Willow Bennett looking for out number one. Reagan Turbyfill then hit a high and deep shot to left and the only question was if it was fair or foul, it went over the fence just inside the foul pole of a solo home run, making the new score 3-2 midway through the fourth inning.
The Lady Huskies got the run back when Kennedy Malone walked, moved to second on a passed ball, took third on a wild pitch, and the scored on another wild pitch. After four complete innings the Lady Huskies led 4-2.
Cloudland’s Jayla Harper tripled to left field with one out in the top of the fifth and scored on and error by shortstop Josie Graham.
The Lady Huskies once again put a couple of runners on but could not score and held a slim 4-3 lead.
After Turbyfill singled to open the sixth inning Brooks buckled down and retired the Lady Landers without incident.
With the Lady Huskies nursing a 4-3 lead and Lady Lander pitcher Turbyfill struggling to find the plate the Lady Huskies erupted for six runs to break the game open. Kinlea Easter drew one of Turbyfill’s four walks and scored on a wild pitch. Brooks laced a double down the left field line to score two more.
Graham walked, and then came the big blow, a three-run dinger off the bat of Trentham. Her shot cleared the fence in centerfield and the Lady Huskies were up 10-3.
Brooks sat down the Lady Landers in 1-2-3 fashion to end the game and the Lady Huskies move to the District-1, 1A Tournament championship game. North Greene also secures a berth in next week’s region 1-1A Tournament.
The district championship game is slated for 7 p.m. on Wednesday at North Greene. Cloudland and Unaka will play at 5:30 in the losers’ bracket finals.
Brooks allowed three hits over seven innings and struck out 10 for the win. She was 3 for 4 at the dish with four RBIs. Trentham was 2-for-4 at the plate and also with four RBIs and a home run.
Turbyfill took the loss inside the circle and lead the Lady Lander’s on offense going 2-for-3 with a home run.
