Sevier County hasn't had much luck against Morristown-Hamblen East recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Smoky Bears are taking a road trip to take on the Hurricanes at 5:30 p.m. Sevier County has given up an average of 8.1 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Sevier County is headed into Thursday's contest looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fourth straight game on Tuesday. They came up short against Eagleton College & Career Academy, falling 14-3.
Sevier County saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Jade Hubbard, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 1-for-2.
Meanwhile, Morristown-Hamblen East won against West Point last Wednesday with nine runs and they decided to stick to that run total again on Tuesday. The Hurricanes put the hurt on Jefferson County with a sharp 9-1 win. Considering the Hurricanes have won three matchups by more than six runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Ella Wampler made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned run off seven hits (and only one walk). She has been consistent : she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season. She was also big at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing a base while getting on base in two of her four plate appearances.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Jaycee Hamilton, who went 3-for-4 with three doubles, three RBI, and two runs. Ava Combs was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Morristown-Hamblen East is on a roll lately: they've won four of their last five games. That's provided a massive bump to their 4-4 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.6 runs on average over those games. As for Sevier County, their loss dropped their record down to 4-9.
Sevier County's speedy runners might be the difference in Thursday's contest. The Smoky Bears have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Morristown-Hamblen East, though, as they've been averaging only 1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Sevier County continue to outrun the ball?
Sevier County couldn't quite finish off Morristown-Hamblen East when the teams last played back in March and fell 8-6. Can the Smoky Bears avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
