The historic Elizabethton softball program is heading to uncharted waters.
Lauren Brickey hurled a two-hitter to power the Lady Cyclones to a 2-0 victory over Union County in the TSAAA Class AA Sectional on Friday to punch the program’s first ticket to the state tournament. It was sweet revenge for EHS as the Lady Patriots ended Elizabethton’s season last year.
“We knew it would be a tight game,” Elizabethton Head Coach Kenny Hardin said. “I can’t say enough about these girls. They battle so hard. It’s just like I said the other night; these girls don’t quit. They’re a tough group of girls and never give up.”
The Lady Cyclones broke onto the board in the bottom of the third in a big way.
After loading the bases, Maci West hit a perfectly placed ball to push a run across the board for the first time in the game. Jessica Cunningham struck in the next at bat as she also pushed a run to give EHS a 2-0 lead going into the fourth.
That proved to be all Elizabethton needed as Brickey stayed ahead of the Lady Patriots the rest of the way. Brickey recorded seven strikeouts in the game.
“What can you say about her effort,” Hardin said of Brickey. “You go into this kind of situation and pitch a two-hitter. I couldn’t be prouder of her.”
West finished the game 2-for-3 to lead EHS at the plate. Abbi McKinney, Macie Herrmann, Kira Dillard and Hannah Edwards all recorded a hit for the Lady Cyclones.
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