By Michael Lindsay
The Cookeville Lady Cavaliers closed out the 2024 regular season with an extra home victory Tuesday evening as weather forced their season finale from Smithville to Cookeville, where they defeated the DeKalb County Tigerettes 4-1.
“We were supposed to travel, but rain came in and with late notice we changed the venue to here,” said Cookeville head coach Jordan Webb. “We easily could’ve walked in and not be focused. DeKalb is a good team and they can jump on you. Our girls came out ready.”
The Lady Cavs made multiple lineup changes for their regular season finale, including Ella Dudney starting at pitcher, who pitched a complete-game victory while surrendering only 3 hits and 1 walk while recording 5 strikeouts.
“Ella Dudney pitched fantastic,” said Webb. “She was all around the zone and in control the entire night. It’s really important; in the postseason you’re going to need everybody. Getting some girls on the field that hadn’t been in the past few games was valuable.”
Center fielder Julie Martin led the Lady Cavaliers at the plate as she went 3-4 with a double and 3 runs scored. First baseman Gracie Randolph led DeKalb County as she went 2-3 with a solo home run.
Cookeville was the guest on the scoreboard and opened the contest with a run in the top of the first inning via a Kadie Presley single to score Martin.
The duo repeated their first-inning effort in the top of the third as a Presley single scored Martin to give Cookeville a 2-0 advantage.
Martin scored again via a wild pitch in the top of the fifth before Randolph’s solo homer in the bottom of the fame made the score 3-1 entering the sixth inning.
Cookeville extended their lead in the top of the sixth inning as a Kyrklinn Moores pinch-hit double scored Laylah Turner to give the Lady Cavs a 4-1 lead. Dudney retired the side in the bottom of the sixth and forced a ground-out with two runners on in the bottom of the seventh inning to seal Cookeville’s 4-1 victory.
The Lady Cavaliers finished the regular season at 21-9 overall and begin District 7-4A tournament play tonight at home against LaVergne at 6 p.m.
