Lady Wolverines Off To 4–1 Start
By EDDY GIFFORD
Sports Writer
The Dade County High School Lady Wolverine softball team had a busy first full week of the 2021 season that started off with a rain out at LaFayette on Monday.
On Tuesday, the Lady Wolverines traveled to Armuchee High School in Rome to face the Lady Indians.
Dade scored in the top of the first to take the early lead, but Armuchee responded in the bottom of the first to tie the game 1-1.
The Lady Wolverines took the lead back in the top of the third to go up 2-1 and then extended that lead to 4-1 with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Another run in the sixth wrapped up the scoring and DCHS claimed a big 5-1 road win.
The Lady Wolverines ran wild in the game, stealing 12 bases. Stella Henry had four, Kristen Fowler three, Emma Heard and Ali Thompson two each, and Kaitlyn Stinnett one.
Henry had four hits in the game, scored three runs and had one RBI. Fowler had three hits, two RBI’s and scored a run to lead the Lady Wolverine offense.
Kayleigh Warnock picked up the win pitching three innings giving up three hits, one run, striking out two, and walking two. Maddie Cuzzort pitched four innings giving up just one hit, striking out two and walking two.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Dade 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 05 09 02
Arm. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 01 04 00
On Friday the Lady Wolverines traveled to Dalton to take part in the Heritage Tournament.
The first game for Dade was against Cedartown High School.
The team got off to a fast start again, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning and then put the game away with eight runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 10-0 lead after two innings of play.
Cedartown responded in the top of the third inning with three runs but that would be all they would get. Dade added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Cedartown was unable to score again in the fifth and the Lady Wolverines claimed an easy victory 12-3 in five innings.
DCHS racked up 15 hits in the game led by Kaitlyn Stinnett with three hits and a pair of RBIs while Henry, Emma Heard, Olivia Tierce and Raegan Page had two hits each.
Warnock picked up the win pitching five innings allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out two and walking one.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Cdtwn. 0 0 3 0 0 X X 03 06 02
Dade 2 8 0 2 X X X 12 12 03
Next up for the Lady Wolverines was Murray County. After two scoreless innings Murray County took the lead in the top of the third with a pair of runs.
Dade managed to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third but still trailed 2-1.
Murray County added to their lead in the top of the fourth with a run to go up 3-1 but the Lady Wolverines came storming back in the bottom of the fourth with six runs to take a 7-3 lead.
Murray refused to go away and rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth to trail 7-6 but the time limit ended the game and the Lady Wolverines picked up a hard fought 7-6 win.
Leading Dade’s offense were Henry, Fowler, and KK Castleberry with two hits each. Henry scored two runs and had three RBL’s. The team also stole seven bases with Henry and Page having two each.
Alyssa Wilson pitched 2.1 innings giving up three hits and two runs and Cuzzort pitched 1.2 innings giving up three hits and three earned runs and picked up the win. Warnock pitched one inning giving up one hit and no runs.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Murray Co. 0 0 2 1 3 X X 06 07 01
Dade County 0 0 1 6 X X X 07 09 00
On Saturday morning the Lady Wolverines were back in Dalton to face LaFayette.
The Lady Ramblers took the lead in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of runs and then scored again in the bottom of the third to take a 3-0 lead.
Dade had trouble getting the offense started and after four innings trailed 3-0.
That would change in the top of the fifth. A ground out a single by Tierce was followed by a walk. With two on and one out Henry hit a double scoring two runs and Thompson followed with a home run and suddenly the Lady Wolverines were on top 4-3.
LaFayette tied the game in to bottom of the fifth and after a scoreless sixth the game went to the seventh tied 4-4.
In the top of the seventh Thompson singled with one out, stole second and scored on a hit by Fowler who then scored on a double by Kaitlyn Stinnett to give Dade a 6-4 lead.
Warnock then shut the Lady Ramblers down in the bottom of the seventh and the Lady Wolverines claimed their fourth win of the season.
Warnock pitched a complete game giving up four hits and four runs (two earned) to claim the win.
Thompson led the offense with two hits including a home run, two RBI’s and scored two runs.
Stinnett had three hits and two RBI’s while Fowler had two hits and scored a run.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Dade County 0 0 0 0 4 0 2 06 09 02
LaFayette 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 04 04 01
The Lady Wolverines are now 4-1 on the season and have another busy week ahead.
They were scheduled to play Gordon Lee on Monday and then open Region 7-AA play on Tuesday when they hosted Fannin County.
Later this week the Lady Wolverines will host Trion on Thursday at 5 p.m. and then host Ridgeland on Saturday with the first game starting at noon and a second game to follow.
They will also be playing at home on Tuesday, Aug. 24 against Model starting at 5:30 p.m.