Warriorettes can’t recover after first-inning blast

After a week without action due to a mix of weather and Spring Break, the White County Warriorettes were finally back on the dirt. But the return didn’t go the way they had hoped, as Stone Memorial pulled away early and never looked back in a 14-1 loss.

The Panthers wasted no time setting the tone, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first. The second pitch of the game hit Ashely Whittenburg to put a runner on, and a single by Alexis Jackson quickly added traffic on the bases. Then came the big swing — Cadence Cox jumped on the second pitch she saw and sent it over the fence to give Stone Memorial an early cushion.

White County had a chance to answer right away, sparked by a familiar name back in the lineup. Senior Kylie Norvell, playing her first game of the season after returning from the Warriorettes’ historic basketball run, lined a 2-2 pitch for a single. Freshman Addie Norvell followed with a single of her own on the second pitch, and Kylie’s speed forced a throw to third that allowed Addie to move up. Just like that, the Warriorettes had two runners in scoring position with no outs.

But the opportunity slipped away. A pair of strikeouts and a fielder’s choice ended the threat, and it proved to be a turning point.

Stone Memorial kept the pressure on, adding six runs in the second and one more in the third before White County could get another runner on base.

The Warriorettes finally broke through in the bottom of the third. Addie Norvell reached after being hit by a pitch, and catcher Anna McCulley followed with a triple that brought her home for White County’s only run of the game. But again, the momentum didn’t last, as McCulley was left stranded.

The Panthers added four more runs in the fourth, while White County went down in order in the bottom half, bringing the game to a close.

Mabry Taylor took the loss in the circle, working 2.2 innings and allowing 10 runs, eight earned, on eight hits and a walk while striking out three. Annie Burrier came on in relief, giving up four runs on three hits and a walk to finish the game.

The loss drops the Warriorettes to 1-3 on the season, with their matchup against Warren County still suspended after last week’s lightning delay. They’ll look to bounce back tonight with a road trip to Livingston, with first pitch set for 5:30.

WHITE COUNTY BOX SCORE 
HITS: Kylie Norvell 1, Addie Norvell 1, Anna McCulley 1 
RBI: Anna McCulley 1 
RUNS: Addie Norvell 1 
3B: Anna McCulley 
TB: Anna McCulley 3, Addison Norvell 1, Kylie Norvell 1 
HBP: Addison Norvell 
E: Jada Wright 3, AK Wallace 

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