The Clear Creek Lady Cats have kicked off their softball season with three straight wins.
The Cats were on their home field last Monday to take on rival Pickens. It ended up being the closest game of the week, but CCMS still won handily, 9-4. The Cats were in Dawson County Friday and crushed the Tigers, 10-1.
CCMS was back home Monday, and they made short work of the Warriors for a 12-4 win.
“So far, we have had a good season,” head coach Tina McDaniel said. “We are a seasoned team with 10 returning eighth graders. We have some powerful bats, and our fielding has been top-notch thus far.”
CCMS led Pickens 3-1 after an inning and 7-1 at the conclusion of the third. Pickens finally made a dent in the fifth. However, the Dragonettes’ three runs were not enough to prolong the game after the Cats tacked on two more runs in the fourth.
Turning in multi-hit games for CCMS were Neeyah McDaniel with three while Maylee Bramlett and Kensie Farmer had two apiece. Farmer also drove in five runs and Jaylin Duncan knocked in two.
Pitcher Kaitlyn Bidwell tossed five innings and struck out one and walked one and allowed 10 hits.
The Cats broke out their bats in the third inning at Dawson to break the 1-1 tie. Six runs crossed home plate, two came home in the fourth and they added one more in the fifth. The game was called following Dawson’s fifth at-bat.
McDaniel, Farmer and Lily Teague all recorded three hits, while Bramlett had two. McDaniel also collected three RBIs, and Teague, Duncan, Farmer, McKenly Holt and Brinlee Johnson knocked in one.
Bidwell had another solid five-inning outing. She gave up just two hits and struck out four while walking one.
White County came out strong with a three-run first inning, but CCMS had a resounding answer. The Cats belted 10 hits on the day and scored five runs in their half of the first, three in the second and four in the third. WCHS plated a run in the fourth but it was not enough, and the game was called early once again.
Bramlett knocked in three runs and had a pair of hits. Duncan added three hits and Holt had two.
CCMS pitching: Bidwell 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 BB. Holt 2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K. Reagan MacArthur 1 IP, 1 H.
“I am excited for what this season has the potential to be,” McDaniel said. “It has been a pleasure to coach these girls, many of them since rec ball. I have watched them grow in this game, and I count it a blessing to be a part of it.”
The Cats host Union today at 4:15 p.m.