The Hill – The final line score will show that the Lady Buffaloes 🐃 edged our Lady Cavaliers 10-9 Monday night, but the fans from both sides headed home knowing that they witnessed a little bit of this and a little bit of that in the two hour contest.
Zaire Cushman was the first Lady Cavalier to flash the leather when the centerfielder made a shoe string grab in the top of the first inning to keep the game scoreless.
Laken Lintecum looked to drive in the games first run when she sent a line shot down the third base line. Unfortunately, it found the glove of the third baseman who quickly doubled off Briley McGhee to end the threat.
Floyd County carried a 1-0 lead into the top of the third inning, and by the time the third out was recorded, the lead was 6-0 in favor of the visitors.
Rally #1 happened in the bottom of the frame as CCMS matched the Buffaloes 🐃 five spot with one of their own.
Sadie Mabry, McGhee, Peyton Burcham, Jenna Bowman, and Cushman each touched home plate during the uprising. Mahala Holderfield finished up the rally with a 2-run single.
Floyd County pushed the lead out to 8-5 with two runs 🏃♂️ in the top of the fourth inning, but once again, the fiesty Lady Cavaliers answered back ! Morgan Osborne scored the first run, and Mabry, McGhee, and Lintecum loaded the bases for Cheyenne Bates. Bates went shopping 🛍 at the gap, and by the time the play ended, Carroll County led 9-8 with Bates standing on third base.
Floyd County managed to end the inning with the score still 9-8, and with time becoming a factor, the fifth inning would be the final frame.
FCMS plated two runs to regain the lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. The damage would have been greater, but McGhee made a circus 🎪 catch of a rocket 🚀 hit to left field to lead off the inning.
Carroll County did not go gently into the night as they loaded the bases but fell just short in scoring the tying run.
This concluded the two game series for the youngest of our three softball teams at our Cavalier Park. Hopefully, each of the players enjoyed their stay and will continue to grow in the hopes of one day calling Cavalier Park their second 🏡.
Thank You to Kevin Burress for all of his assistance across the two games !
Nick Cushman, Kevin Burress, and our version of the Cavalier Park crazies.
Mylie Crook and Ashlynn Smith after winning our Foul Ball contest !
Maeli Parker, Brooke Webb, Bayleigh Allen, Ashlynn Smith, Mylie Crook, Natalie Burress, Carlie Beamer, and Olivia Burress were some of the young ladies that joined Kevin Burress and myself in the press box. Nick Cushman and Wayne Carter both made cameo appearances as well.
Photo 📸 #4 was a once in a lifetime experience as Zaire Cushman rounds first with her Mom 👩 in the coaches box 📦.
The Hill – Carroll County Middle School endured a long bus 🚌 ride to the other side of town, bouncing back for a 14-8 victory over visiting Galax on Wednesday night.
The game was halted with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning due to a combination of time ⏲️ and the amount of energy remaining in the right arm of the Maroon Tide pitcher, Claire Wolf.
Opening ceremonyThe two young ladies have energy to spare and were warming up the press box 📦
8th graders :
Briley McGhee Morgan Osborne- injured Kaylee Mitchell
7th graders :
Laken Lintecum Lily Spencer Peyton Burcham Mahala Holderfield Kiki Daubach Brylee Taylor Amariah Martin Kylee Martin Zari Cushman Sadie Mabry Jenna Bowman
6th graders :
Cheyenne Bates MacKenzie Burress
Roster of 16 ➕️ 2 Coaches
Back to the story itself , many people will read this that aren’t necessarily familiar with my writing style, so I will explain a few things here – the goal isn’t to report on the game, its to support the coaches and the team. The goal with our site is to create a safe place for someone to visit without fear of negativity or any form of bullying. Now, we have the disclaimer plugged 🔌 in, I will add one more difference between the college games that I normally work and a Middle School Softball game – there will be no errors counted in this game because at this level it should be about encouraging young players instead of pointing out their weaknesses.
A great example is in the bottom of the fifth inning, Zari Cushman made solid contact, sending the ball into the outfield. ” Wheels 🛞 Cushman circled the bases, and Coach / Dad 👨 happily waved her around when she reached him in the third base coaches box 📦. In college, that is a base hit, and two errors, but here it’s an inside the park home 🏃♂️ run.
6:03 – First Pitch / 80°
The six inning contest was a tale of two halves as pitching and defense dominated the first three innings of play. Peyton Burcham started in the circle and held the Maroon Tide scoreless through three innings. Wolf came close to matching the three scoreless innings with the only score coming in the bottom of the first inninning.
Briley McGhee led off the frame with a base knock and came around to score on a fielder’s choice by Burcham.
What the first three innings were to pitching and defense, the next three were all about Crooked numbers. The two teams exchanged leads without a single inning having less than two runs scored.
11 :49 pm – Shawn Montgomery just emailed 📧 me his Middle School Track and Field meet results at the 18th hour of his day !
Galax had its first six hitters reach base in the top of the fourth inning, but CCMS limited the damage to just three runs. Now trailing 3-1, the Lady Cavaliers answered back immediately with a three spot of their own.
Burcham led off with a walk, and Jenna Bowman drove her home 🏡 with a RBI double, taking third on the throw home. Cushman laced a single to score Bowman and would eventually score the third run courtesy of Mahala Holderfield.
Galax retook the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth. Cheyenne Bates replaced Burcham in the circle with one out, and the Lady Cavaliers turned a nifty double play to end the inning.
Trailing 5-4, the home team took its offense to another level in the four run bottom of the fifth. Laiken Lintecum singled, and Burcham ripped a triple to tie the game, then Bowman added a RBI single before ” Wheels 🛞 ” zipped around the bases to make it 8-5.
Galax was able to tie 👔 the game again at 8-8 on three RBI singles, but a feisty Cavalier team answered back in a big way in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Lilly Spencer led off with a walk, and McGhee reached to bring Lintecum to the plate. The shot to left field was a rocket 🚀 and the double plated two runs. Burcham followed with a RBI double, and Bowman completed her impressive night with a RBI single. The seventh grader finished up with 3 hits, three runs 🏃♀️ scored, and 3 driven in.
Kaylee Mitchell and Holderfield would add run scoring hits, leading to a visit to the mound by Galax. With the 2:00 ✂️off looming (1:50 played ), the game was called, and the home fans went home happy !
Please 🙏 note the mention of as many names as possible because I have no limit in regards to space.
From here, the dream was to have people head to the site and read this story ➕️ the other two about this game, then the Middle School Track and Field, wrapping up with the Adam Nester and the Nester Nine defeating Fort Chiswell 11-2.
Sadly, I just never got there. So when I’m done typing this one, I will send it to Mrs Burcham and Travis Osborne, and then hopefully, folks will read it on social media.
The goal for us is to create a safe space where students, parents, and 👪 can read all about the positive things taking place in this place we call home.
6:00 will be the first pitch for the game, and the goal is to provide the young ladies with an experience that will have them dreaming of the day they can return to take their turn as the next version of our Lady Cavaliers.
Look back at the Back 2 Back State Championships won by Carroll County and its easy enough to point back to the fact that those Lady Cavaliers were playing ball together for five or six years prior to becoming freshman at the school.
Another great example of how it works is the front row seat that I had to the juggernaut of Riverheads High School football program. By the time a boy reached the third grade, he had already envisioned putting on the shoulder pads at the big school.
Tonight, Kevin Burress and I will do our best to leave an impression on the team coached by Nick Cushman and Deana Burcham. Rick Nester has already stayed back last night to prep the field and moved the Varsity practice up so clear the facility in time.
We understand just how vital the job that both coaches do is for the Lady Cavaliers’ future and the amount of pride they both take in their work. Hopefully tonight, both of them will enjoy their moments in the Sun 🌞 ( and hopefully the moon 🌙) as well.
Both basketball 🏀 and volleyball 🏐 have come over to The Hill this year, but this one is different. Those provided a bigger Gym to play in , this one has all the bells 🔔 and whistles .
A fence, electronic scoreboard, a tree 🌳 line, bleachers, rest rooms, and electricity. Tonight, there will be a foul ball contest, lights, and two fellas trying hard to create a memory that will have them working hard to return one day !
Special music 🎶 and a packed house 🏠 will go a long way to accomplishing our goals !See you soon !!!
