Lady Mavs find stride entering district tournament
Anderson County senior catcher Alli McKamey drives the ball during a district doubleheader against Scott on Tuesday, April 28. McKamey went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored in the opener as the Lady Mavericks swept the Lady Highlanders 23-0 and 15-0. (photo:Tony Cox )
The Lady Mavericks finished 16-14 overall and 4-4 in District 4-AAA, earning the No. 3 seed in the tournament, which opened Monday at ACHS.
Despite some inconsistency, the Lady Mavericks built momentum late, winning three of their final four games and carrying a three-game winning streak into tournament play.
Coach Lindsey Verner said her team must elevate its play to extend its season.
“We haven’t played our best ball this season,” she said. “We’ll have to play our best ball now or we’ll get beat and we’ll be going home.
“You have four teams who could absolutely win this thing.”
Clinton and Gibbs shared the regular-season title, with the Lady Dragons claiming the top seed. The Lady Eagles enter the postseason as the defending Class AAA state champions.
Anderson County stumbled early last week, dropping a 5-0 decision to Karns on Monday, April 27. The Lady Mavericks managed just one hit in the loss, coming from Bella Brummett.
The offense, however, quickly found its rhythm in a district doubleheader sweep of Scott, where Anderson County erupted for 38 combined runs.
In the opener, the Lady Mavericks rolled to a 23-0 victory, scoring 15 runs in the first inning, seven in the second and one more in the third.
Senior Alli McKamey went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Marlea Finstad finished 2-for-4 with four runs scored and two RBIs. Reese Brock added two hits, two runs and an RBI, and Cindle Justice singled and scored twice.
Anderson County completed the sweep with a 15-0 win in the nightcap, as several younger players contributed in the lopsided victory.
The Lady Mavericks closed the regular season Thursday night with a 10-0 shutout of Knoxville West.
Pitcher Addison Grooms threw a five-inning complete game, allowing five hits and striking out one.
Brummett homered and drove in five runs, while Finstad went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Kara Waddell added two hits, an RBI and a run scored, and Harlee Taylor had a hit, scored three runs and drove in another.
