The Newport Plain Talk

COSBY-It depended on who you talked to as to how the Cosby Lady Eagles softball squad would fare this season. There were plenty of question marks prior to the start.

First, the Lady Eagles welcomed a new head coach, as Steven Swann took over for Lisa Coffey.

Second, the majority of the team also played basketball. And, as we all know, the Lady Eagles went deep into post-season play, advancing to the sub-state round. As a result, Coach Swann didn't have eight of his nine starters for pre-season practice. By the time the basketball players arrived to play softball, coach Swann was already looking at the start of the season.

Third, pitching, and who would be in the circle. Two-year starter Erika Mathes was gone, so coach Swann had to find two girls that could get the job done in the circle.

Coach Swann certainly had some pop in the line-up on the offensive side with returning seniors Megan Williams, Lindsey Hall and Kalsea Mantooth, not to mention the leadership that all three of the seniors would provide. And he had more talent to add with Tiffany Hartsell, Courtney Johnson Megan Tinker and Whitney Black. Two talented freshmen were also added to the mix with Brooklyn Stuart and Taylor Valentine. Bonnie McBryde was also there if needed.

With the roster set, the schedule was next, and it was brutal. In addition to their District 2A opponents, Hancock County, Washburn, and Jellico, it seemed that all the remaining opponents on the schedule were bigger schools. Pigeon Forge, Rutledge, Gatlinburg-Pittman and West Greene were all AA schools, not to mention Cocke County at AAA, and the opponents at the Tiny Day tournament in Greeneville, which we will get to shortly.

Despite a solid number of returning starters, including the three seniors, the Lady Eagles would have to deal with inexperience at nearly all of the positions except Williams behind the plate. Hall and Hartsell would be in the circle.

It proved to be a tough season for the Lady Eagles. Six of their first 12 opponents were AA or higher schools. Two more were with North Greene, which has one of the top Class A pitchers in East Tennessee, and is a contender with Unaka out of District 1A for the District championship. And, then came the Tiny Day classic.

Cosby came in to the tournament looking for its third win of the season, but was eliminated in the "D" Division by perennial power, Triple-A Knox Bearden, 11-2. The game was played on Sunday, the third day of the tournament, at EastView Field in Greeneville.

"These girls are playing their hearts out and there's been a big improvement with this team since the start of the season," said Lady Eagles' assistant coach Randy Herzog. "We've made big improvements in making contact and the defense has really come a long way."

Two Cosby student-athletes were named all-tournament in the division, Lindsey Hall and Megan Williams.

Taylor Valentine accounted for the CHS scoring with a two-run single.

On Saturday, day two of the tournament, Cosby dropped a pair of contests in round-robin action at Hardin Park in Greeneville. Jessie Daruna and Tiffany Hartsell crossed the plate in an 11-2 loss to Happy Valley. Hall pitched well in a competitive 7-1 defeat to North Greene.

Cosby played twice on Friday at EastView, absorbing a 6-0 loss to Johnson County and a 15-2 defeat at the hands of Daniel Boone. Hall was particularly effective on the mound in keeping her team in the contest with Johnson County. Hartsell and Daruna again provided the runs scored in the Boone game.

The Lady Eagle's record really wasn't indicative of how they were playing late in the season. The defense and pitching were coming around, and the bats were coming alive. The Lady Eagles were saving their best for when it counted most, the post-season.

After a regular season-ending split in a double header at Greenback, the Lady Eagles began District 2A tournament play against host Washburn last Friday. It wasn't pretty, as the Lady Eagles fell to the Lady Pirates 14-4, and were forced to the loser's bracket where they would face Hancock County in a do-or-die game. The Lady Eagles were up to the task, pounding Hancock County 14-4. But, in order to keep their season alive, the Lady Eagles would have to beat Washburn, a team that had beaten the Lady Eagles in three previous games on the season.

Everything fell into place for the Lady Eagles. Lindsey Hall was in the circle, and was keeping the Lady Pirates in check. Trailing the Lady Pirates going into their turn at bat in the top of the seventh, and final inning, the Lady Eagle's season was on the line. The Lady Eagles sucked it up, however, with five straight doubles from Johnson, Williams, Hartsell, Hall and Mantooth, and a triple from Stuart. Suddenly, the Lady Eagles were in front. Hall held the Lady Pirates in check in the bottom of the seventh, and the celebration was on with an 8-5 victory. The win not only sent the Lady Eagles into the championship series, but also qualified them for Region Tournament play.

The Lady Eagles went into the championship showdown with Jellico on Tuesday afternoon needing two victories to secure a District championship. It wasn't to be, however, as Jellico scored one run in the second, three in the third and six more in the sixth en route to a 10-3 victory. Stuart had an RBI triple in the fourth for the Lady Eagles, while a double by Williams, an RBI double by Hall and an RBI single by Stuart accounted for the Lady Eagles other two runs in the top of the sixth. Williams and Hall were named to the All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the game.

Now, the Lady Eagles await their next test, the opening of Region 1A play on Monday at a site yet to be determined. The District 1A tournament is still underway, but Unaka currently holds the upper hand. North Greene and University School are fighting each other for the right to face Unaka in the championship round. As a result of their second place finish in the District 2A tournament, the Lady Eagles must travel to the District 1A Tournament champion's home field on Monday starting at 5 p.m. As a result, this story will be continued.

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