Dobyns-Bennett hits leadoff homer, routs East in 4 innings
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Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett had no trouble keeping Morristown East winless in softball, rolling to a 17-1 triumph Monday afternoon at King Park in a game shortened to four innings by the mercy rule.
The Lady Indians’ Riley McMillan got a hard-hit ball up into the wind for a leadoff home run and the visitors pounded out 18 hits on the way to their 16th win against three losses in their District 1-4A opener.
East fell to 0-3 in the conference and is now 0-12 for the season.
The Tribe scored one in the first, two in the second and then exploded for eight in the third frame before tacking on six more in the fourth.
The Lady Hurricanes got their first run in three conference games in the bottom of the fourth when Jaycee Hamilton scored from third as a runner was thrown out trying to steal second.
Hamilton had two solid hits for East while Danika Winstead and MaKenzie Maness had infield safeties.
Winning pitcher Phoenix Ahles threw three shutour innings and recorded eight strike outs for the Lady Indians. Braelynn Ferrell worked the fourth.
Farrell collected four hits to lead the Tribe attack and McMilllan added three.
Allie McConnellee added a three-run homer and single while Riley Hughes-Lapovich, Evie Porter and Olivia Aldridge all chipped in two safeties each.
Freshman Paige Horner was the losing hurler with Hamilton coming on in relief in the third inning.
East coach Leslie Clemmons said, “We ran into a really good team tonight. They hit the ball hard all night long.
“I thought Jaycee had another great night at the plate and Jaelyn (Valentine) made some strong plays for us in center field.”
She closed, “We’ll learn from this and continue to work to get better.”

