Alex Everett and Kali Henderson each hit two home runs on Thursday afternoon and led Soddy-Daisy past Ooltewah, 15-0, in a District 5-AAA high school softball game at Jim Lovell Field.
Everett and Henderson combined for five hits – Henderson also had a single – as Soddy-Daisy pounded 20 hits in the five-inning game.
In 31 plate appearances, Soddy-Daisy had 20 hits for a .645 batting average.
“This bunch can play a little bit,’’ Soddy-Daisy coach Clifford Kirk said with a grin.
Henderson’s home run in the first inning gave Soddy-Daisy (2-0, 1-0) a 2-0 lead. In the third inning, Henderson and Everett hit back-to-back homers over the wall as the Lady Trojans put eight runs on the scoreboard in taking a 12-0 lead. Everett then added a home run in the third inning.
“They both have looked good all spring,’’ Kirk said. “They have been hitting the ball hard. They both have a lot of power.’’
Cassidy Hackney, Andi Johnson, Morgan Bailey and Emily Bice each had two singles for Soddy-Daisy while Brooke Ward added a double. With one single apiece were Brandi Lasley, Ashley Chainey, Mariam Wood, Haylee Everett, McClain Hamrick and Millie Putnam.
“This bunch hits the ball well, understands what it’s all about and they get along,’’ Kirk said. “They can be good, real good. They can get us back to Murfreesboro (for state tournament.)’’
Starter Kelsey Nunley, a sophomore, gave up one hit in four innings for Soddy-Daisy. She struck out seven. Freshman Tori Denayre gave up one hit and struck out one in the fifth inning.
“Stick (Nunley) played basketball and that slowed her down a little, but she’ll be fine,’’ Kirk said.
Sophomore Taylor Baird started for Ooltewah, but was hit by Nunley in the bottom of the first. She pitched the second inning, but had to leave due to a knot on her forearm.
Ooltewah senior Sara Kelley, who signed with Carson-Newman also re-injured her shoulder during the game.
Sara O'Rear and Jessica Morgan had singles for the Lady Owls (1-1, 0-1).
LINESCORE
Soddy-Daisy……..228 21 – 15 19 1
Ooltewah………...…000 00 – 0 2 2
Nunley, Denayre (5) and Wilson, Bailey (4); Baird, McCarter (3) and Daniels.
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)