Lady Cyclones see season end as they fall to Crockett 7-0 in District Tourney
Published 1:19 pm Friday, May 10, 2024
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Lela Byrd delivers a pitch for a strikeout to open the second inning.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Mikena Blackwell shifts to third base to field a bunt attempt.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Lady Cyclones seek to mount a rally in the fifth inning, trailing 5-0.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Senior Emma O'Quinn fields a grounder and makes the put-out.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Cyclones right-fielder Piper Bennett stretches for a ball just beyond her reach.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Senior catcher Mollie Johnson adjusts her helmet during a break.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Coach Hardin makes a pitching change in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Lillie McDuffie warms up with her throws in the bullpen.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Centerfielder Adrian Heading makes a long throw from the warning track.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Sadie Williams prepares to swing as the pitch approaches.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
Bristol – The Lady Cyclones battled from the first pitch to the last but struggled to get their bats going in an elimination game of the District 1-3A tournament. That’s not to say they didn’t hit the ball hard on several occasions; unfortunately, it was directly at a Lady Pioneer positional player every time.
Lady Pioneer Eva Marler provided a spark in the third and fourth innings, breaking open a scoreless tie. In the third, she hit a double, plating the game’s first run, and then picked up another base hit in the bottom of the fourth to plate two more runs, making it 5-0. The Lady Cyclones continued to battle but couldn’t rally as they watched their 2024 season come to a close. A tip of the hat to Lady Pioneers pitcher Madelyn Dulaney, who went the distance throwing the no-hitter.
Seniors Mollie Johnson and Emma O’Quinn had strong defensive efforts in their final games as Lady Cyclones, as did sophomore Sadie Williams, who flashed the leather several times at third. Lela Byrd went 5.2 innings, racking up eight strikeouts. Lillie McDuffie induced a ground ball to end the bottom of the sixth. The 2024 Cyclones finished their season with a record of 22-14.
After the game, Head Ladies Cyclones Coach Kenneth Hardin reflected on the game and spoke at length about his two seniors, Johnson and O’Quinn. “We just made a couple of mistakes early and just couldn’t get anything to go our way tonight,” Hardin shared. “I told my two seniors they have been two of the best to ever play here. They are hard-working and consistent; they do anything and everything you ask of them. Emma has played everywhere for us this season; Mollie may be the best catcher in East Tennessee,” Hardin added.
Johnson finishes the season leading her team in hitting with a .523 batting average while serving as an absolute wall behind the plate. O’Quinn was everything a coach would want out of a player in the 2-spot in the batting order; she sported a .382 batting average, was second on the team in RBIs, and chalked up 15 sac bunts; while serving as a defensive jackknife. “Between the two of them they had three errors; that’s just remarkable,” Hardin exclaimed.
