The Grainger Grizzlies will square off against the Morristown-Hamblen West Trojans at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Grainger will be looking to extend their current four-game winning streak.
While Grainger didn't have the best season last year (they finished 8-11), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They came out on top against Anderson County by a score of 9-4 on Friday.
Destanee Davis spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and two unearned) runs on six hits. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in nine consecutive appearances.
Jaylee Nickell
| 04/04/25 vs Anderson County | 2 |
| 03/28/25 vs Sevier County | 1 |
| 03/20/25 @ Greeneville | 1 |
| 03/18/25 @ Claiborne | 2 |
| 03/17/25 vs Cocke County | 1 |
| + 2 more games |
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Jaylee Nickell, who went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one triple. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last seven games she's played. McKenna Kee was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Morristown-Hamblen West got the win against Daniel Boone on Friday by a conclusive 10-2. Considering the Trojans have won three games by more than seven runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Morristown-Hamblen West also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Briony Bunsic gave up just two earned runs on six hits and racked up seven Ks.
At the plate, Morristown-Hamblen West let Kara Dyke and Cadence Beaver run wild. Dyke went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two doubles, while Beaver scored three runs while going 3-for-4. Those doubles were Dyke's first of the season. Another player making a difference was Kaylynn Milton, who scored a run while going 1-for-3.
Morristown-Hamblen West was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .429. That's the best batting average they've posted all season.
Morristown-Hamblen West has been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 4-5 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.2 runs over those games. As for Grainger, their victory bumped their record up to 8-2.
Monday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Grainger hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .386. However, it's not like Morristown-Hamblen West struggles in that department as they've averaged .318. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Grainger was able to grind out a solid win over Morristown-Hamblen West in their previous matchup back in March of 2015, winning 7-2. Will the Grizzlies repeat their success, or do the Trojans have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
