By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
SPRING GARDEN – It’s not uncommon to hear creative and interesting chatter from any softball dugout.
On Friday evening, the Cedar Bluff Lady Tigers wanted to know what everyone’s ‘guns’ sounded like.
Metaphorically speaking, senior center fielder Za’Niya Kyle’s guns sounded like cannons against Jacksonville Christian in the Class 1A, Area 11 tournament at Spring Garden.
Kyle went 3-for-4 at the plate, including a two-run homer to center field in the bottom of the fifth inning. An inning later, Kyle delivered a walk-off double to right field that scored Ciana Smith, who doubled to center with two outs, in the Lady Tigers 10-0 victory.
“I have a problem holding my back foot, and (Coach Mandy Walker) always tells me to step in there, take everything off my shoulders, sit back and relax,” Kyle said. “Where my power comes from, I over-rotate a lot, but I was just in a moment – having everything right, sticking that back foot out, and following all the way through.”
“If she can ever stick that back foot out and make a connection, it’s going,” Walker said. “She did that for us tonight in the clutch.”
While Kyle was one of the Lady Tigers’ clutch hitters on Friday, but junior pitcher Kaylyn Vadon was clutch in the circle. She allowed just one hit – a single to center by Sophie Williams with one out in the top of the third. She also walked one and struck out eight.
“Kaylyn has been working really hard. She’s been going to lessons and getting better every week,” Walker said. “I just thought we’d give her an opportunity today and she didn’t let us down. She did good.”
Vadon also walked and scored a pair of runs at the plate. Anna Henderson doubled, walked and scored a run for the Lady Tigers (12-11). Smith also walked and scored twice. Blakelea Hall had a hit, a walk and a pair of runs. Rylie Walker contributed a hit, a run and a RBI. Anslee Evans drove in a run. Kylie Vadon walked and scored a run.
The Lady Tigers will take on Spring Garden (23-9) in the tournament winners’ bracket on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. The Lady Panthers spotted Faith Christian a one-run lead in the top of the first, but then erupted for 16 runs in four innings in a 16-1 victory.
Addie Word delivered the knockout blow in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run single to center. She was 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs.
Word also picked up the win in the circle. She tossed all four innings and gave up an unearned run on three hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Avery Steward went 2-for-2 with a walk and a pair of runs. Maggie Jarrett was 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs. Helena Ingram doubled, walked, scored twice and drove in three runs.
Maggie Reedy collected a hit, two walks, four runs and a RBI. Hayden Parris posted a hit, a run and two RBIs. Olivia Law had a hit, a walk and two runs. Paisley Woodall delivered a hit, a walk and two RBIs. Layla Ingram walked three times and scored three runs.
Faith Christian was eliminated by Jacksonville Christian in the losers bracket on Friday night. The final was 12-2. Jacksonville Christian awaits the loser of the Cedar Bluff-Spring Garden game on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
