By Michael Lindsay
The Monterey Lady Wildcats opened their week with a District 5-2A victory as they defeated York Institute, 5-3.
Monterey was led at the plate by centerfielder Kaylin Shepherd, who went 3-4 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored and an inside-the-park home run.
Ali Novak picked up the win in the circle as she recorded 12 strikeouts and gave up 6 hits and 3 earned runs in 7 innings.
York Institute’s Hannah Conatser and Brooklyn Holt each recorded 2 hits in the loss. Holt struck out 10 while pitching for the Lady Dragons.
After a scoreless 2 1/2 innings, Monterey got on the board in the bottom of the third as a Shea Harris double to center scored Haylee Lafever and Shepherd along with a Dixie Elrod grounder to score Haylee Garthwait, giving the Lady Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
York Institute answered in the top of the fourth inning as hits by Conatser and Abby Price scored Alyssa Morgan and Jacklyn Delk to make the score 3-2. A Taylor Tokoli grounder scored Conatser later in the frame to tie the game at 3.
Monterey retook the lead in the bottom half of the fourth as a Shepherd single to center scored Addison Roberson to give the Lady Wildcats a 4-3 lead.
Shepherd tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth as she hit a grounder to right in an inside-the-park home run, giving Monterey a 5-3 lead and a district victory to start the week.
The Lady Wildcats are in action again Tuesday afternoon as they travel to Sequatchie County while York Institute hosts Jackson County.
