LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — The Moore County Raiderettes home game on Tuesday ended up being a bit of a nail biter. After pulling ahead by five runs, Moore County needed solid pitching and excellent defense in the seventh inning to hold off the Culleoka Lady Warriors.
The Raiderettes beat Culleoka 10-8 in Lynchburg. Tuesday’s game was Senior Night for the Raiderettes eight graduating players including Ava Womble, Rayel Pierce, Erica Clifton, Chloe Brazier, Kendall Dangerfield, Madelynn McLaughlin, Charlotte Ray, and Gracie Bailey.
Tuesday’s game marked the second victory against Culleoka in the regular season. Moore County beat the Lady Warriors 11-4 on March 21 in a game with hot bats from the Raiderettes bench including 15 hits as well as solid pitching by Paisley Logan.
On Tuesday, both Moore County and Culleoka got on the board in the first inning with three runs each. Emilee Moorehead, Kendall Dangerfield, Erica Clifton, Madelynn McLaughlin, and Chloe Brazier all got hits that resulted in RBIs.
In the top of the second, Raiderette pitcher Kallie Ross managed a fly out, strike out, and ground out to send all three Lady Warriors back to the dugout. On the Moore County at bat, the Culleoka pitcher hit Ava Womble with a pitch to advance her to first base. An at bat later, Kendall Dangerfield singled advancing Womble to third. With one out, Erica Clifton reached base on a dropped third strike allowing Womble to score. The run gave Moore County a one run advantage, 4-3. On the next at bat, Madelynn McLaughlin ground out to third base but not before Dangerfield scored.
Culleoka matched those two runs in the top of the third to tie the score at 5-5. Moore County earned back the edge at the bottom of the third with a sacrifice bunt from Rayel Pierce to put Gracie Bailey in scoring position. Greenlee Ward then singled on the third at bat to score Bailey and give the Raiderettes a one run lead, 6-5.
Moore County held Culleoka scoreless in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings while mounting a growing lead. The Raiderettes score two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to go into the final stanza leading 10-5.
With one last shot at a W, Culleoka’s Kaylynn Burns homered with two runners on to pull with two with one out remaining. Then Culleoka ground out on the next pitch to Gracie Bailey to get the Raiderettes out of the inning with a victory.
Kallie Ross got the start and pitched all seven innings for the win. She threw 113 pitches with 68 strikes and four strike outs. Nine Raiderettes got hits. Kendall Dangerfield led with three followed by Erica Clifton and Chloe Brazier with two hits each. Emilee Moorehead, Gracie Bailey, Rayel Pierce, Anysten Metcalf, Greenlee Ward, and Ava Womble all got a hit apiece. Moorehead led in stolen bases with two.
They will play Eagleville on Wednesday and Marshall County on Friday to round out regular season play. Both games will be played at the MCHS softball field. The Raiderettes will begin play in the District 9 Girls Softball Tournament in Cornersville next week. •
{The Lynchburg Times is the only independently owned and operated newspaper in Lynchburg. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}