SHAWN DIGIANFELICE
Sports Writer
The Shelbyville Central Golden Eaglettes had a busy week on the diamond, playing four games and earning first-year head coach Kailey Snell her first career victory.
Marshall County- 8 Shelbyville Central- 2
Shelbyville showed flashes at the plate Monday night but couldn’t overcome an early deficit in an 8-2 road loss. Shelbyville finished with eight hits on the night, with several players turning in solid offensive performances.
Sydney Moore led the way with a strong outing, collecting two hits, including a double and helping set the tone offensively. Mariah Nowlin also recorded a multi-hit game, finishing with two hits, including a double and scoring one of the Eaglettes’ runs. Shelbyville got additional production from Jazzlyn Nowlin, who added a double and drove in a run, while Laila Lauderdale chipped in with two hits to keep innings alive. Jeheili Palacios Acuna contributed a hit as well, rounding out a balanced effort at the plate.
The Eaglettes broke through in the fourth inning to get on the board and added another run late, but were unable to string together enough timely hits to close the gap.
In the circle, Maci Lovvorn started with Tenley West coming in for relief in the first inning. West worked six innings, giving up 5 earned runs and striking out three and walking five batters.
Cookeville- 9 Shelbyville Central- 7
A late push wasn’t enough to overcome an early deficit as the Shelbyville Eaglettes fell 9-7 to Cookeville on Tuesday night in their first district game of the season.
Cookeville set the tone early, plating two runs in the first inning and adding three more in the second to take control.
The Lady Cavs extended their lead with runs in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings, finishing with 12 hits on the night.
Shelbyville responded with flashes of offense throughout the game, collecting 10 hits and scoring in four different innings.
The Eaglettes got on the board in the second, then put together a two-run third inning to trim the deficit.
Trailing late, Shelbyville mounted a final push with two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings, but the comeback came up just short.
Laila Lauderdale led the Eaglettes with two hits and two runs scored, while Ja’mya Anderson added two hits and an RBI. Mariah Nowlin also recorded two hits, and Alliana Rippy contributed a triple and an RBI. Janiya Leslie had a double and Jazzlynn Nowlin and Maci Lovvorn each added singles for Shelbyville Central.
In the circle, Abby Robb went the distance for Shelbyville, allowing nine runs (six earned) on 12 hits while striking out one.
Shelbyville Central- 7 Central Magnet- 2
The Eaglettes made the most of their chances Wednesday, turning timely hitting and aggressive baserunning into a 7-2 win over Central Magnet. The win gave first year Shelbyville head coach Kailey Snell her first career victory.
Shelbyville struck first in the second inning when Ja’Mya Anderson delivered an RBI single. The Eaglettes added another run in the third on an RBI single from Jeheili Palacios Acuna to take a 2-0 lead.
Central Magnet answered in the bottom of the third, tying the game at 2-2 behind a two-run double, but the Eaglettes quickly swung momentum back in their favor.
In the fourth inning, Shelbyville broke the tie for good. Kenley Patton drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the go-ahead run, and the Eaglettes took advantage of additional miscues and wild pitches to extend the lead to 5-2.
Shelbyville added insurance late, plating two runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Tenley West earned the win in the circle, working six innings while allowing two runs on 14 hits and striking out four. Alissa Robb came on in relief and shut the door with a scoreless seventh inning.
Offensively, the Eaglettes were led by Sydney Moore, who went 3-for-4 with a double and drove in a run, while Palacios Acuna added two hits, including a double and two RBIs. Anderson also collected two hits and an RBI. Ja’maya Leslie also added a single and a run scored.
Moore County- 7 Shelbyville Central- 5
A five-run lead slipped away Friday night as the Golden Eaglettes fell 7-5 to Moore County after a decisive fifth inning flipped the game.
Shelbyville looked in control early, building a 5-0 advantage behind consistent hitting and timely execution.
Ja’Mya Anderson got things started in the second inning, launching a solo home run to left field to put Shelbyville on the board. They added to the lead in the third when Janiya Leslie delivered an RBI double and Maci Lovvorn brought home another run on a groundout, extending the cushion to 3-0.
The Eaglettes continued to apply pressure, eventually pushing the lead to five runs heading into the bottom of the fifth. But that’s when the momentum shifted.
Moore County erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning on five hits, capitalizing on defensive miscues. The biggest blow came on an error that plated two runs, helping the Raiderettes take a 7-5 lead they would not relinquish.
Lovvorn, Jazzlynn Nowlin, and Jeheili Palacios Acuna each recorded two hits to pace the Eaglettes offense, while Anderson, Leslie, Lovvorn, and Kenley Patton each drove in a run.
Alissa Robb started in the circle for Shelbyville allowing six runs — none earned — over 4 and 1/3 innings. Tenley West provided relief, giving up one run over the final 1 and 2/3 innings.
Shelbyville will look to bounce back Monday when they host Lincoln County. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 P.M.
Shelbyville Central pitcher Tenley West threw six innings against Central Magnet giving up two runs and striking out four in the Eaglettes 7-2 victory on Wednesday.