BLOUNTVILLE — The Science Hill softball team made West Ridge pay for two late mistakes.
The Lady Hilltoppers remained in a tie atop the Big Four Conference, rallying past the Lady Wolves 3-2 on the road Wednesday.
Isabel Meeks and Kaylee Oler led off the sixth with back-to-back singles, and Meeks’ courtesy runner Tiffany Lee scored on a two-out infield error to tie the game at 2.
Maddie Diamond, who drew a two-out walk in the seventh before advancing on a wild pitch and passed ball, scored on another two-out infield error. Meeks then retired the side to preserve the win, finishing with eight strikeouts in a three-hit effort.
Meeks went 2-for-4, and Diamond hit a solo home run in the second inning for Science Hill.
Kami Clark doubled for the Lady Wolves, who got RBI singles from Savannah Pogue and Caydence Spears. Pogue drove in the go-ahead run for a 2-1 West Ridge lead in the fifth.
Union 9, Gate City 4
GATE CITY — Bella Bascope batted 3-for-4 with a double and scored three runs from the nine-hole to lead Union, which built an 8-0 lead in the sixth before the Lady Blue Devils pulled closer. Kaylee Rutherford (2 runs) and Kylee Castle (double, 2 RBIs) both had two hits for the Lady Bears, while Aliyah Davidson (2 runs) hit a triple.
Ava Collinsworth struck out seven in the five-hit win.
Rylee Blevins went 2-for-4 for Gate City, which got a two-run double from Ada Gillenwater in the sixth.
Eastside 1, Patrick Henry 0
COEBURN — Taylor Clay and Emmaleigh Banks ripped back-to-back doubles in the second inning, the latter scoring a run. And that was all the Lady Spartans needed to stay undefeated. Lexi Bond and Maddie Compton both went 2-for-3.
Emma Sartin stuck out 11 and scattered two hits in her six-inning performance, before Braelyn Hall struck out all three batters she faced in the seventh.
Sullivan East 8, David Crockett 4
BLUFF CITY — Despite being outhit 9-6, the Lady Patriots rallied after scoring six runs in the sixth inning. Natalie Collins (2-for-2), Allie Helbert and Olivia Ashbrook all doubled in the win, Helbert’s double scoring a pair of runs in the sixth.
Raquel Del Prete went the distance and struck out one.
Laney Britton went 3-for-3 to lead Crockett. Brylee Tullock hit 2-for-4, and Julie Maupin doubled.
Tennessee High 3, Elizabethton 0
ELIZABETHTON — Carly Compton struck out 16 batters and tossed a one-hit shutout for the district-leading Lady Vikings, who got a double and a home run from Addie Wilhoit.
Lilly McDuffie fanned five and allowed six hits in the losing effort.
BASEBALL
Union 3, Chilhowie 2
CHILHOWIE — Eli Pleasant recovered from a slow start and went the distance, pitching six straight scoreless innings to close the game. He finished with six strikeouts and scattered three hits.
Keith Chandler and Kam Bishop each hit a double and a single for the Bears, who got their winning run from Aidan Lane on a fourth-inning error.
Connor Smith hit a two-run double for Chilhowie.
Daniel Boone 16, Lebanon (Va.) 8
LEBANON, Va. — The Big Four champion Trailblazers distanced themselves with an eight-run fourth, building a 13-4 lead. Ben Stevens, Ethan Roller, Graham Jones and Chandler Justice all went yard for Daniel Boone, with Jones and Justice both adding a double. Roller finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs, while Liam Strouth and Jackson Utsman both had two hits. Jones and Stevens batted in four runs apiece, and Justice scored three times.
Garrison Jones earned the win after pitching the first three innings with one strikeout.
Luke Garrett went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs from the nine-hole for Lebanon.
Knox Halls 7, Cherokee 5
KNOXVILLE — Seth Perry’s one-out single drove in two runs, breaking a 5-5 tie in the sixth inning. Perry, Amari Lethgo and Landan Wells all had two hits.
Cole Putnal went 2-for-3 with a double to lead Cherokee, while Manning Brooks scored twice.
Science Hill 5, Greeneville 3
GREENEVILLE — Science Hill seized control right away, as Major Osbolt and Nate Stoots singled in runs to help the Hilltoppers take a 4-0 lead over the defending 3A state champions.
Landon Smelser (2 runs), Jackson Berry and Josh Marmo all recorded two hits for the Hilltoppers while Osbolt had two RBIs.
Noah Hazell struck out two and scattered six hits over the first five frames, before Caden Well fanned four in the last 1 2/3 innings for the save.
Kaine Ricker hit 3-for-3 and drove in two runs for the Greene Devils, who tried to rally with a two-run sixth. Maddox Bishop went 2-for-4 with a double.
