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Morristown West rode the strong pitching of Briony Bunsic to a 7-0 victory over cross-town rival East Thursday afternoon in the first game of the City Championship series at J. C. Wild Park.

The defending District Two 4-A champions got the only two runs they really needed in the bottom of the first inning and that was way more than Bunsic needed.

The talented sophomore tossed a three-hitter and struck out 10 while walking just one to lead the Lady Trojans to their fifth win against three losses. It was the second district win without a loss for West.

East slipped to 2-6 overall and is now 1-1 in league action.

The Lady Trojans got just five hits themselves with Jaelyn McDaniel getting two while Briony Bunsic, Aviah Bunsic and Aubrie Messer all added one. Mikaela Olodey knocked in the first three West runs with ground outs to the mound.

Keeley Shisler, Hudson Cloninger and Adasia Davis had singles for East. Shisler actually had another clean single but it went into the books as a fielder’s choice when a runner on first was thrown out at second on the play.

West coach Heather Kelley was pleased with the win. “It’s a big win for us to start 2-0 in the district. We got an early lead and that’s important to get off to a good start in rivalry games like this.

“I thought Bri really threw the ball well,” she added. “I’ll take a three-hit shutout against East every single time and be happy.”

Kelley went on to say, “We didn’t get a lot of hits but we got some when we really needed them, especially in that third inning. Jaelyn and Aubrie both had timely hits and that gave us a comfortable lead the way Bri was throwing the ball.

“We’re looking forward to our trip to Florida now and hope to continue to improve as we play down there.”

Kylie Rader was the starter and loser for East. Rader faced just two batters and walked both before being replaced by Ella Wampler who finished up.

East coach Sydney Davis said, “I thought Ella did a good job for us on the mound. She came in there and threw strikes, which is exactly what we needed for her to do.

“We made a couple of errors but overall, I thought we played pretty well,” she added. “That’s the first time we’ve been shut out this season and I was disappointed we didn’t hit the ball better than we did.”

In the bottom of the first, both Bunsic sisters walked on four pitches before Wampler came to the mound. The runners moved up on a wild pitch and both scored as Olodey bounced back to the mound. Briony was running on the play and Aviah crossed as the first baseman was knocked down trying to make the play at first.

Davis got East’s first hit in the top of the third and one out later Shisler had a clean hit to center with the runner being out at second. Briony Bunsic then ended the inning with a strike out.

After going down in order in the second, the Lady Trojans’ third was a lot like the first. Both Bunsics walked to start the frame and moved on a wild pitch. Olodey knocked in the first run with a ground out to make it 3-0.

McDaniel then smacked a single to left to plate another run and Messer followed with a double to right-center field that made it 5-0. Messer scored on a ground out by Hailey Milton.

West got its final run in the fourth as Briony Bunsic opened with a single and scored when Messer reached on an error.

The only time the Lady Hurricanes had two runners in an inning came in the sixth. Shisler singled with one out but was thrown out trying to steal second. Cloninger then banged a single and Zoe Shelley walked to put runners on first and second.

However, Briony Bunsic got a strike out to get out of trouble and then set the Lady ‘Canes down in order in the seventh.

East will be back in action tonight when it hosts Greeneville at King Park. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.

Softball: Jefferson County 4, Sevier County 1

Jeff County picked up their first district win of the softball season over Sevier County on Thursday evening.

Picking up the win in the circle was Tia Stewart. Steward gave up one run on two hits and struck out eight.

Sevier County actually got on the board first with a run in the first, but the Lady Patriots responded with three in the third. Those runs came on a Ava Gray RBI single and a sacrifice fly that scored two.

The Lady Patriots added one more in the fourth as Zoe Lawson hit an RBI single.

Baseball: Claiborne 8, Morristown East 7 (8 Innings)

Morristown East built a 7-0 lead on Thursday against Claiborne but could not finish the job as they fell in extra innings.

Things started off well for East in the top of the first as Eli Seals singled in two and Jonah Carden, Brice Epps and Lane Grizzell each singled in one to make it 5-0.

In the second, East added two more runs on a steal of home and an Ethan Shockley RBI single.

However, Claiborne scored two in the third, two in the fifth and three in the seventh to send the game to extra innings.

From there, Claiborne got the winning run in the eighth to steal the win.

East will be back in action on Friday as they travel to take on Cherokee at 6 p.m.

Jefferson County, 6, Cumberland County 2

Jefferson County continued their strong start to the season on Thursday with a win over Cumberland County.

The win moved the Patriots to 6-3 on the season.

Jeff County got things going in the first as Maddux Rogers led off with a solo homer. Briley LaRue added two more runs later in the inning with a two-RBI triple.

In the second, the Patriots scored their final three runs as Rogers tripled in a run and the scored on a passed ball. Once again, LaRue knocked in another run later with a single.

Pigeon Forge 6, Grainger 0

Four runs in the first inning set the tone for the Pigeon Forge Tigers as they downed Grainger 6-0 Thursday night.

Dylan Loy had the big hit in the first for the Tigers as his single scored two runs. Bryson Davis was on the mound for the Grizzlies and he struck out nine batters, walked three, gave up four hits and two earned runs. Defense continues to be a problem for Grainger as they committed four errors.

Ryland Burchett had a productive game at the plate for the Grizzlies as he went 2-for-3.

Tennis

Boys: Morristown West 6, Seymour 3

Girls: Seymour 8, Morristown West 1

The Morristown West tennis teams split with Seymour on Thursday afternoon, as the boys picked up their fourth win of the season while the girls fell to 2-2.

On the boys side, wins came from Eli Morrison, Andrew Gal, Eli Shoun and Noah Stapleton in singles. In doubles, Morrison and Brance Matthews and Stapleton and Braden Polk each picked up wins.

The lone winner on the girls’ side was Peyton Winter.