In a whirlwind week of softball, the Lady Elks played three games in three days and came out with two big conference wins while suffering one loss to the Cardinals of East Wilkes.
The Lady Elks hosted the Cardinals on Wednesday, March 20. East Wilkes scored the first run of the game in the third inning. Elkin’s senior catcher Leah White answered in the fourth inning when she batted in senior teammate Maggie Tomlin, who had three hits in as many times at bat for the game, including one double. But the Elks could not keep up with the Cardinals. The Lady Cardinals combined for seven total hits and four stolen bases compared to the Elks’ five hits and only one stolen base, from freshman Addison Gentry. Cardinal senior pitcher Chloe Andrews had nine total strike outs to Elkin’s seven, leading her team to a 5-1 victory over Elkin.
With barely time to catch their breath, the Lady Ellks hosted the Trojans of Alleghany the following day. Alleghany scored first, in the second inning after Cora Collins got a base hit, scoring one run. But the Elks flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the second inning, scoring six runs on three hits to take the lead at 6-1. Leah White served the biggest blow of the inning after hitting a single on a full count, driving in three runs.
In a second hitting frenzy, Elkin scored seven more runs on five hits in the bottom of the third inning. Freshman Alyssa Jenkins hit a single to score one run. Senior Lily Robbins knocked a home run over the right field fence to bring two runners around the base, scoring three runs on the play. White hit a double, bringing in one runner while A. Gentry brought home two runners with her base hit.
In the fourth and final inning of the game, Elkin continued hitting well, scoring six runs on three hits. Senior Macy Lane brought in two runners with her double hit deep to center field. Senior Karly Gentry drew a walk to first base after being hit by a pitch, driving in one run and A. Gentry drove in three runs after earning her second base hit of the evening.
Karly Gentry, pitching for the Lady Elks, only allowed four hits and three runs over the four innings, striking out seven while only walking two batters. The Elks racked up 12 total hits in the game with seniors Maggie Tomlin, Macy Lane, Lily Robbins and Leah White along with freshman Addison Gentry all collecting two hits each for their team. Second baseman A. Gentry, went 2-for-2 at bat and led her team with 5 runs batted in. But the Elks also showed patience at the plate, piling up 8 walks for the game. The Lady Elks decisively took the win with a final score of 19-3.
In their third game in as many days, the Elks hosted their rival Rams from Starmount. On a day where game time was moved up due to forecasted rain, play began under gray skies.
Starmount got on the board first, early in the first inning when Payton Howell got a base hit, scoring one run. But Elkin quickly answered when they took the lead in the bottom of the first inning after Macy Lane got a single and Karly Gentry grounded out, each scoring a run. The Elks would not relinquish the early lead.
Elkin managed to add one run each in the bottom of the second and third innings when Lily Robbins grounded out, bringing home a runner and K. Gentry hit into a fielder’s choice towards second base, bringing home a runner on a Starmount error.
With the score 4-1, the Elks went on a hitting craze in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring five runs on seven hits. Senior LeighAnn Church got a solid base hit, bringing in one run. Another Starmount error resulted in a run scored for Elkin then freshman Alyssa Jenkins, who collected three hits in three at bats, knocked one deep into left center field earning a double and scoring a run for her team. Not to be outdone, Robbins hit deep for her own double while teammate Tomlin, earning her second hit of the game, brought home a runner, bringing the score to 9-1.
As the rain began during the sixth inning, Elkin managed to add one run but missed ending the game early with the mercy rule, by leaving a runner on base. The seventh inning began with a steady rain falling, which affected the Elks’ play. With two outs under their belt, Elkin struggled to close out the game. Starmount capitalized, scoring six runs on four hits. Molly Swaim hit a homerun over center field, scoring three runs and Carley Money brought in two runners with a base hit while an Elkin error gave the Rams another run. Robbins finally earned the win for the Elks while allowing nine hits over seven innings, striking out twelve and only walking one batter. The Elks dominated the game for six full innings, and delighted in taking the win 10-7.
The Elks accumulated 15 hits in the game. Tomlin, Lane, Church and Mackenzie White all collected multiple hits for their team. Elkin also had a strong eye at the plate, accumulating six walks for the game. Church and Jenkins each stole multiple bases for the Elks, with a total of nine stolen bases in the game.
The Elks improved to 3-1 in conference play and 7-3, overall. They will travel to face the Sauras of South Stokes next, on April 2 as they continue conference play.
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