Region unbeaten streak still intact for No. 1 Gordon Lee
CHICKAMAUGA — The No. 1-ranked and two-time defending Class A state champions Gordon Lee Lady Trojans looked strong in their region opener against visiting Mt. Zion last Tuesday, scoring in every inning but one and riding the pitching of senior ace Kalei Kimbrell to a tidy 7-0 win. The win also extended the Lady Trojans’ winning streak against Region 6-A opponents to a remarkable 75 games, and Tuesday’s win also marked the 55th shutout victory during that span. Their last loss to a team from Region 6-A came on Sept. 9, 2006 when Bowdon edged Gordon Lee, 2-1 in eight innings. “Anytime you win a region game it’s a good win,” head coach Dana Mull said “It’s still early in the season, and I still see things we have to improve on, but we’re manufacturing runs, and we’re doing it early in games. When we’re able to do that, with the pitching we have, I think it puts us in pretty good shape.” Gordon Lee scored twice in the first and fourth innings and added solo runs in the second, fifth, and sixth, racking up eight hits. Leadoff hitter Tiffany Holland was 4-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, while Kimbrell helped herself with three hits, including a double, to go with an RBI. Mull said that while big offensive innings are helpful, the one and tworun frames help just as much. “We had a big fourrun inning against Dade County (at the LFO Invitational), and that was all we scored that game,” she explained. “If I had to choose, I’d rather be consistent and put up a run or two every inning, but we’ll take them however we can get them.” Kimbrell moved to 3-1 on the season by scattering six hits and one walk while striking out nine Lady Eagles. Her lone trouble spot came in the top of the fifth when the visitors loaded the bases with no outs. But Kimbrell induced a groundball to shortstop Jordyn Hamill, who threw home to catcher Ansley Underwood for a force out. Underwood then fired to third base to complete the 6-2-5 double play. One batter later, left fielder Sara Holcomb made a running catch to rob Mt. Zion of ex- tra bases and threat. Holcomb and Tori McElhaney each scored a run while Hamill scored once and drove in two runs despite not collecting a hit. quell the came to an end at the hands of longtime rival Trion on Thursday, but the Navy-and-White saved their best for last. Trailing the Lady Bulldogs, 5-4, in the sixth inning of a backand-forth affair, Gordon Lee finally dropped the hammer and exploded for nine runs in the top of the seventh inning to claim the 6-A victory. Gordon Lee led 2-1 after three innings, only to see Trion take a 3-2 lead with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Lady Trojans countered with two runs of their own in the top of the fifth, but gave the two runs right back a half-inning later. Kimbrell (4-1) got the win in relief of Emily Armour, who started the game. Kimbrell gave up three hits and struck out three batters in four innings of work, while Armour one hit and struck out one batter before leaving the game after three innings. Tiffany Holland was 4-for-5 with a triple, two RBIs and four runs scored. Jordyn Hamill was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs driven in, thanks to a tworun blast in the seventh. Kimbrell collected three RBIs, Courtland Middleton and Ashley McDonald had two RBIs each, and Megan Wolinsky came through the gametying hit to jump-start the seventh inning rally. Gordon Lee (7-1, 2-0) is scheduled to host Trion in a rematch at 5 p.m. on Tuesday before playing at Excel Thursday at 5 p.m. Mt. Pisgah 55, Mt. Vernon Walker 30, Temple 14 Dalton 21, Ringgold 19 CAK 42, Darlington 23 13