By Michael Lindsay
The Smith County Lady Owls picked up a District 5-2A softball victory over Monterey Thursday evening as they defeated the Lady Wildcats, 5-4.
Cassie Mofield led the Lady Owls at the plate as she went 2-3 with 2 RBIs and a run scored. Pitcher Jackee Rigsby recorded the victory as she struck out three while surrendering 6 hits in 7 innings.
Monterey pitcher Ali Novak recorded 7 strikeouts for the Lady Wildcats.
After three scoreless innings to open the contest, Monterey posted three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead. A Hayley Lafever bunt scored Olivia Webb to get the Lady Wildcats on the board. Monterey scored two more runs with two outs as a Smith County error led to a Makayla run followed by a Garthwait single to score Kaylin Kemp.
Smith County answered in the bottom of the fourth as the Lady Owls scored three runs with two outs to tie the game at 3-3. A Mofield single followed by a Monterey error allowed Abby Woodard and Lauren Carlyle to score followed by an Avery Woodard single to score Chloe Collins, tying the game at 3-3.
Monterey retook the lead in the top of the sixth inning as a Garthwait single to center scored Haylee Trevathan, giving the Lady Wildcats a 4-3 lead.
Smith County responded with two outs again in the following frame as a Nevaeh Troutt double to left scored Collins and Mofield to give the Lady Owls a 5-4 advantage entering the top of the seventh inning.
Monterey advanced the tying run to third base with one out in the top of the seventh before Rigsby forced a groundout and struck out the final Lady Wildcat batter to preserve Smith County’s 5-4 victory.
The Lady Owls improve to 8-2 overall and 3-0 in District 5-2A play while Monterey falls to 6-6. Smith County is scheduled to host Macon County Friday at 4:30 p.m. while Monterey is set to travel to York Institute at 5 p.m.
