Cloudland wasn’t about to let the season end on Monday afternoon.
Senior Saharra McKinney hit a walk-off double as the Lady ‘Landers rallied to force extra innings and held the momentum to take a 4-3 win over Hancock County in eight innings in the Region 1-A Quarterfinals at Unaka.
It was the program’s first regional tournament win and also secured the first substate appearance. The Lady ‘Landers are set to host North Greene at Unaka on Wednesday for the Region 1-A Championship game.
Runs were hard to come by.
Both teams went quietly in the first inning before the Lady Indians were able to plate the game’s first one in the second.
Reagan Turbyfill got on base in the home side of the frame as Cloudland tried to answer, but CHS was unable to move the runner. Neither team was able to get on the board in the third or fourth innings.
In the top of the fifth, Hancock plated two runs to take a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth.
Cloudland, however, battled back
Izabella Christman led the frame off with a double and scored off a McKinney single. McKinney touched home plate after Savannah McCoury put the ball in play to cut the CHS deficit to 3-2.
Each team stranded a base runner in the sixth as the Lady Indians held a 3-2 lead going to the seventh.
The top of the sixth saw Hancock County load the bases. However, Cloudland was able to keep the Lady Indians from touching home plate.
The Lady ‘Landers saw McKinney get on base with a double and then scored to tie things up off an Eowyn McCoury single. Cloudland was unable to keep the inning going as the game went to extra innings.
The Cloudland defense came up strong in the eighth keeping the Lady Indians from scoring despite a pair of baseruners.
That set the stage for the Lady ‘Landers to take care of business.
Layken Blair led the inning off with a double, and Jayla Harper got base with a walk. After Peyton Preswood hit into a fielder’s choice, Christman hit a single to load the bases. The next at-bat saw McKinney hit the ball to center field and plate the winning run to set off the celebration.
McKinney was 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Lady ‘Landers. Christman had three hits, while S. McCoury added two hits.
Rea. Turbyfill struck out five batters in a complete game effort.
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