By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

NORTH SHELBY – Ashlee Sanders took the mound to start the game for Oak Mountain on March 24 against visiting Hillcrest and threw 126 pitches in 4.2 innings of work, which averages to 9 pitches per batter. Sanders was relieved by Abby Jones who pitched the final 2.1 innings in the relief effort. By the time Jones came to the mound however, Hillcrest had already piled eight runs on the scoreboard and was well out in front of the Lady Eagles, and held on for the 8-4 win.

After a scoreless first inning, Hillcrest hung four runs on the Lady Eagles defense in the top of the second to build an ample lead. The 4-0 advantage held until the bottom of the third when Oak Mountain got two of those runs back. Madeline Porter singled to lead off the inning and was subsequently able to make it home after Carmyn Greenwood singled to advance her to second. She then took it upon herself to advance to third and subsequently home on the next two pitches. When Jones singled soon after, Greenwood made it home to bring the score to 4-2.

Hillcrest would prove to be too much from the offensive side of the game, however, and scored two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to bring their run total to eight. Oak Mountain also added two more runs in the fifth inning, but it would prove to be too little too late, and the Lady Eagles lost for the seventh time this year.

Sanders, Porter and Cassady Greenwood all had two hits on the day to lead the way for the Oak Mountain bats. Cassady Greenwood also had two RBIs on the day. Carmyn Greenwood, Jones, McKenzie Ridgway, Sara Gallman and O’Neil Roberson each contributed one hit on the day as well.

With the loss, Oak Mountain fell to 5-7 on the year.