Once again strong pitching and timely hitting led Cleveland to a key District 5-4A win Tuesday as Rhea County visited Brenda Lawson Field.
Freshman hurler Huntlee Dennison notched 10 Ks in a 3-1 league victory, pushing the Lady Raiders to 4-1 in league play and 11-11 overall.
"After a tough March against some really strong competition, it’s exciting to see everything starting to come together," related first-year Cleveland head coach LeeAnne Shurette.
"I’m really proud of how we’re playing right now as we are winding down the regular season and we head into district tournament."
The Lady Raiders will host crosstown rival Bradley Central (11-14-1) Thursday before heading to play in the Choo Choo Classic in Chattanooga Friday and Saturday.
Rhea County (8-10, 1-4) will travel to face Sequoyah and Tellico Plains Saturday.
LADY RAIDERS 3, LADY EAGLES 1: Despite allowing at least one baserunner in each of the first half dozen innings, Dennison worked her way out of jams with wind blown two-run solo home run by Rhea's Allie Shaver in the top of the third the only run she allowed.
Cleveland answered with a pair of scores in the bottom of the third when junior leadoff hitter Brylee Cisco beat out an infield hit and classmate Landri Nelson worked a two-out walk.
After the pair moved up on a delayed double steal, senior Allison Farnsworth delivered a double to bring both to the plate.
The Lady Raiders were able to add an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth when Hall and Sophie Greene delivered back-to-back one-out singles.
After being bunted up by Dennison, Hall scored on a passed ball.
Cisco got on base three times with a pair of one-base knocks and a free pass, plus swiped a trio of sacks, while Nelson also walked the line to go with her hit.
While both teams collected a half dozen hits, Dennison walked just two with 73 of her 105 pitches in the strike zone.
She forced the visitors to strand six base runners, while freshman Ariyah Huffman snagged hot corner bullet and doubled off a Lady Eagles at second to end the top of the sixth.
"I thought Huntlee did a great job mixing her speeds tonight, and we really stepped up defensively," Coach Shurette assessed. "We made some big plays with runners in scoring position and turning a few double plays.
"I was proud of the way our team bounced back after going down 1–0 on the home run.
"Brylee Cisco is such a spark plug at the top of our lineup. She gets us going, and once she does, the rest of our hitters follow. We can bunt the ball or hit it hard, and it’s been fun to watch," she proclaimed.
Throwing 121 pitches, 67 for strikes, Shaver went the distance in the circle for Rhea (8-10, 1-4 District 5-4A), striking out seven and giving up four "freebies," but causing the hosts to leave seven "ducks on the pond."
Keeli Wilson and Hailee Kosek both went 2-for-3 for Rhea, while Lakyn Lockhart had a single and a free pass.
GAME SUMMARY
District 5-4A
Tuesday, April 15
at Brenda McKenzie Field
Rhea County 001 000 0 — 1 6 0
Cleveland 002 100 x — 3 6 0
WP: Huntlee Dennison 7 IP, 10 Ks, 2 BB,6 hits, 1 ER. LP: Allie Shaver 6 IP, 7 Ks, 4 BB, 6 hits 3 ER. HR: Shaver (RC). 2B: K Wilson, Lakyn Lockhart (RC); Allison Farnsworth (C). RBI: Shaver (RC); Farnsworth 2 (C). RECORDS: Rhea County 8-10, 1-4 District 5-4A; Cleveland 11-11, 4-1 District 5-4A.