Lady Junior 'Clones split with Unicoi

from staff reports

   ERWIN--It took almost an entire season for T.A. Dugger to suffer a loss in softball. It didn't take long for the Lady Junior Cyclones to get back on the right path.
   Absorbing a 7-2 loss to Unicoi County on Tuesday, TAD bounced back in the second game of the Middle Eight doubleheader to register a 4-1 triumph.
   The Jr. Cyclones now stand at 14-1 on the season, boasting a 12-1 Middle Eight worksheet. TAD can still clinch at least a tie for the league title with a win today at John Sevier. Action begins at 4:30 in Kingsport.
   In Game 1 vs. Unicoi, TAD jumped out to a 2-0 first-inning lead thanks to a Leah Henson two-run single, which scored Kyla Jones and Taylor Bellessa. Jones had reached with a leadoff double.
   However, the Lady Patriots answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning and never looked back.
   Chelsey Fagan had a double of her own for the Jr. Cyclones while Janey Robinson collected a base hit.
   In the second contest, a three-run fourth inning by TAD broke up a 1-1 tie and rewarded the excellent pitching of Summer Smith, who registered the victory.
   Smith, aiding her own cause, belted a double and Madison McKinney stroked a single to drive in runs during the pivotal fourth. Jasmine Treadway, Henson and McKinney accounted for the three runs in the inning.
   Henson tagged a double in the first inning, driving in Jones for a 1-0 TAD advantage.