By Wade Holland
After sweeping the competition in back-to-back trips to Tennessee this week, the Lynn Camp Lady Cats are not likely to be welcome back into the Volunteer State with open arms again anytime soon.
Lynn Camp traveled to Cumberland Gap, TN, on Tuesday and escaped with a thrilling 12-11 extra-inning victory. The Lady Cats returned the following day to hang two losses on Jellico, 9-3 and 16-1.
The three wins improves Lynn Camp to 12-7 on the season. The Lady Cats have won six of their last seven games.
The momentum and confidence from their recent victories will be much needed as the Lady Cats face both Knox Central and Corbin later this week.
LC 12, Cumberland Gap 11
In a back-and-forth game that saw five lead changes, it was Lynn Camp that got the last laugh when junior first baseman Kaley Hendrickson reached base to start the 8th inning, used strong base running to advance to both second and third on passed balls, before scoring the game-winning run on a single by Olivia Dozier.
Four Lynn Camp players had three hits each in the contest. Gabby Carollo had three hits and two RBI to go with two runs scored. Katie Miller and Julia Shepherd both finished with three hits and an RBI each, while Hendrickson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
Erin Holland collected two hits in the game and scored two runs while knocking in one more. Dozier had two hits and two RBI.
Annabelle Jones, in her first varsity start, had one hit, one run scored, and an RBI. Halle Mills had one hit and one run scored. Alexis Lowe and Makayla Wright both scored runs.
Mady Roberts started the game on the hill and struck out five in 3.2 innings of work before Mills came on in relief to strike out nine in 4.1 innings.
LC 9, Jellico 3
Lynn Camp was not strong out of the gates and struggled to put away the host team. The Lady Cats were leading by just one, 4-3, before a five-run fifth inning put the icing on the cake.
Julia Shepherd did a lot of damage at the plate to lead the way for the Lady Cats. The sophomore catcher went two-for-three with three RBI and a run scored. Gabby Carollo was also 2-for-3 and had one RBI and one run scored. One of her hits was a triple.
Hanna Lay, Kaley Hendrickson, and Halle Mills all added one hit each for the winners. Mills scored a team-best three runs in the game, while Hendrickson and Lay scored one each. Hendrickson also had an RBI and her one hit went for a triple.
Katie Miller scored a run for the Lady Cats. Erin Holland knocked in an RBI.
Mady Roberts and Annabelle Jones both scored a run in one at bat each.
Halle Mills started the game on the mound and went the distance, striking out seven while walking just one in five innings.
LC 16, Jellico 1
After getting warmed up in the first game, Lynn Camp’s offense was on fire in the nightcap, scoring early and often on the way to the mercy-rule victory.
The Lady Cats scored two runs in the first, three in the second, four in the third, and closed out the game with a seven-run fourth inning.
Sophomore Mady Roberts was lights out while allowing Jellico just four hits and one run while striking out five and walking none. She hit the strike zone with more than 80 percent of her pitches.
Lead off hitter Halle Mills led the way offensively for the Lady Cats, knocking in four runs and scoring three more on two hits, one which was a triple.
Julia Shepherd continued to swing a hot bat and went 3 for 4 with three RBI and a run scored.
Newcomer Hanna Lay continues to impress and make the most of her time in the lineup with three RBI and two runs scored while smashing an inside-the-park home run.
Gabby Carollo scored three runs and had one hit for the winners. Kaley Hendrickson and Katie Miller scored a run apiece. Erin Holland scored one run and drove in two RBI.
Olivia Dozer didn’t get many good pitches to hit, but made the most of her at bats with three walks that she turned into three runs scored.
Mady Roberts knocked in a run, while Annabelle Jones scored a run.
