Moses shines on mound as Tellico rolls McMinn Central

Kadence Moses’ second start in District 3-2A play was not something new.

The sophomore is familiar with the position and repeated the feat she performed nine days earlier.

Moses struck out 13 batters in the two-hit night, matching the number from March 12 over Polk County and pushing the Lady Bears (3-1; 2-1) to a 7-1 win over McMinn Central.

“I felt like she did a great job. She hit her spots — was outside, inside and up-and-down. She did really good spinning the ball really well,” Tellico Plains coach Don Swanson said. “I am proud of her.”

Moses has struck out 29 batters through three games, but the night did not start positively. A triple ripped down right field immediately put the Lady Chargers on the front foot.

A fielder’s choice put McMinn Central ahead. Moses struck out the side and then Tellico settled in after allowing the lone run, recording 18 consecutive outs — 12 of those as strikeouts.

“I think it is good (the direction we are headed in). From what I have watched and what I have seen, we play with everybody and I feel like we have a good chance of beating a big percentage of them,” Swanson said. “I think we will be in every ball game.”

Tellico bats did not struggle to begin production. Skyler Day reached on an error to start the bottom of the first before Taylor Rose’s RBI single tied the game. Three batters later, Kalli Yates-Matoy slapped the go-ahead run in with a double into left field.

Yates-Matoy, Rose and Moses finished the night with two RBIs each.

Down 2-1 in the count, Yates-Matoy led the bottom of the third off with a home run and Tellico’s lead extended to six.

Meya Keener pushed Day — who reached base off another Lady Charger error — across in the fourth inning, singling into center field. McMinn Central totaled four errors in the loss.

Tellico’s most productive half-inning came after Dana Harmon was walked to lead off the second. Addie Woods then singled to push Harmon into scoring position. Day’s bunt loaded the bags.

Rose grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Harmon. One batter later, Moses' pop-fly single scored Day and then Woods on the throw.

“I feel better. The first game we swung it alright against Polk County, but had not seen a lot of pitching. With Meigs County, we saw Lainey (Fitzgerald) and when you have not seen a lot of pitching that is a tough one to start with,” Swanson said. “Right now, they are doing good and swinging the bat better.”

The Lady Bears have turned to a pair of new faces through the early season, such as Day and Harmon. Moses controlled the circle as a sophomore and fellow sophomore Addie Woods leads Tellico with a .571 average.

“I think they are doing good and are in the direction we need to be. I think we are going to get stronger every time we play,” Swanson said.