B

Kaleah Davis was excellent in nearly every aspect of the game Thursday night.

Hitting? Check.

Throwing? Check.

Fielding? Check.

Fashion? Well, let’s just say there’s some work to do.

The junior centerfielder was rounding third and heading for home having just blasted her first career homerun over the centerfield fence and turning the tide of the game against visiting the Jefferson County Lady Patriots, a game that the Lady ‘Canes would go on to win 6-3.

Davis touched home and was mobbed by her teammates, on of whom pushed a blinged-out cowboy hat onto her head, part of the team’s new homerun celebration.

Davis however quickly trotted to the dugout where she removed the Big Mama hat or possibly the Mamacita hat – they’re still workshopping the name – and continued with the celebration.

Apparently it was a matter of fit.

“It was embarrassing,” she explained. “My head’s shaped weird so I didn’t think it looked right but everybody was telling me it looked good.”

Davis preference in headgear aside, everything else looked good on the junior’s night.

She had two hits, four RBIs and the homer that – after a slow start – put East in the lead for good.

“It was the first one I’ve ever done, outside of practice,” she explained. “So I mean, that’s pretty exciting. I didn’t realize it was over until everybody when ‘eeeeyyyyy.’ I was halfway to second before I knew.

“It was great honestly.”

It was a get-right game for the Lady Hurricanes after a rough season-opening loss at Grainger.

East coach Sydney Davis – no relation – said Kaleah’s homer and her attitude were a massive part of the win.

“This is really her first year in the starting position and she’s really stepped up,” coach Davis said. “She’s got a great attitude, a great mentality. This group of girls, we have a lot of that and Kaleah’s definitely one that starts that, once it starts everybody on this team has a positive attitude and I really enjoy that.”

Davis wasn’t alone in shining on the offensive attack. Shortstop Ella Wampler ripped a pair of singles and drew an intentional walk. Keely Shisler, Jaycee Hamilton, Adasia Davis and Hannah Hall all singled in the winning effort.

Junior secondbaseman Zoe Shelley smacked a double as well.

For Jefferson County, Tia Stewart went the distance on the mound and – with the exception of Davis’ homer – mostly kept the Lady Hurricanes attack in check.

Mercedes Rudolph led the offensive attack with a pair of hits as her two-RBI Texas leaguer in the first inning put Jefferson County ahead. Faith Whited and Stewart each added hits in the losing effort.

East’s standout pitcher Kylie Rader went the distance, striking out 13. Rader struggled a bit uncharacteristically early, issuing a total of five walks in the game but settled down and shut Jefferson County down after the third inning.

“We didn’t look so hot at the very beginning but we came out an hit the ball – which is something we’ve struggled a little bit with and everybody was putting the ball in play,” coach Davis said. “Nothing else we could ask for. We played pretty good defense. There are some things we could have done better but I’m just really proud of our hitting tonight.”

Jefferson County jumped ahead in the top of the first as Whited and Ashley McBride led off with full count walks. After a pair of strikeouts, Rudolph blooped a single into shallow right field, scoring two.

East cut the lead in half when Shisler led off the bottom of the inning slapping a single up the middle, stealing second and scoring on K. Davis’ single up the middle.

The Lady Patriots extended in the lead in the top of the third when McBride led off with a walk and scored on Stewart’s single.

East took control in the bottom of the inning when Shisler walked, stole second and was bunted to third by Hudson Cloniger. Shelley’s double brought the run home. Wampler singled to put runners on the corners and moved to second.

Davis blasted the first pitch she saw over the centerfield fence, giving the Lady Hurricanes their first lead of the game.

In the bottom of the fourth, Hall singled and came around to score on a throwing error when Shisler’s bunt was thrown into right field.

The Lady Patriots fought back, making things interesting in the top of the seventh with a single and walk with two outs. But Rader fanned Ava Garsy for the third time in the game to close the door.

“She finished strong for us,” coach Davis said of her senior pitcher.

Morristown West 7, Volunteer 0

Morristown West 17, Thomas Walker 0

Morristown West opened up play at the East Tennessee Classic on Thursday with two shutout wins.

They improved to 3-1 on the season.

In game one against Volunteer, West scored three in the first and were on their way to the victory.

Mikaela Olodey drove in three runs at the plate while Jaelyn McDaniel hit a two-run home run. Aubrie Messer also had two RBIs.

In the circle, Briony Bunsic got the start and pitched five scoreless, allowing no runs while striking out eight.

In game two against Thomas Walker, the Lady Trojans scored early and often on their way to the win.

At the plate in game two, Aviah Bunsic and Briony Bunsic both homered. Briony also had a triple, single and drove in two runs, while Aviah had a double and drove in two runs.

Aviah Bunsic got the start in the circle in game two and and threw all four innings. She struck out eight and allowed just one hit.

West will be back in action on Saturday at Science Hill to take on Daniel Boone for the final pool game of the tournament at noon. The Lady Trojans will then move on to bracket play after.