Maynard pitches Devilettes past Friendship

She used to play with and against some of them in the Lebanon Girls Softball Association. Then she was a middle-school teammate with them.
On Monday, Meghan Maynard held visiting Friendship Christian to four hits as she pitched Lebanon to a 5-1 victory at Baird Park on opening day for both teams.
Maynard, who attended Friendship during her middle-school years, held the Lady Commanders to three Lindsey Farmer hits and an infield single by Kelsie Lee. Only Farmer's RBI double in the sixth, scoring Lee, made it to the outfield. The Tennessee Tech-signee struck out five and walked two.
"Meghan's pitched well lately," Lebanon coach Brad Rowlett said after his eighth season-opener with the Devilettes. "We played nine preseason games and we've used her in spots. We got out of Meghan what I expected, seven good innings. She was in complete control throughout the game."
Lebanon scattered six hits against Hailey Rutledge before Erica Powell, in her first game as Lady Commander coach, pulled her in favor of All-Stater Carrie Fry, who shut the Devilettes down for the final 2 1/3 innings, fanning five.
Maynard helped her cause with a pair of RBI singles, in the first and third innings, for Lebanon's first two runs. Missy Roberts doubled into the left-field corner preceding the third-inning hit. Kelsey Blackburn singled and scored in the first.
Lebanon chased Rutledge with three in the fourth as Lauren Carr tripled and scored on Mallory Mason's groundout. Kenzie Fish drew a two-out walk annd came around on Lacey Doak's triple to right-center. Fry came on and induced an infield popup, which was dropped to allow Doak to score.
"We've played them twice in preseason," said Rowlett, who saw his daughter, Whitley, play an inning at second base for Friendship. "They didn't see Meghan but I told the girls all along if we didn't give them four or five outs an inning and were fundamentally sound and got the timely hits that we'd give ourselves a chance.
"We made the rountine plays and got the timely hits. And we ran the bases well. I was surprised we were able to steal the bases that we did. It just all worked out well."
Powell's debut as coach of her alma mater didn't work out well, especially considering her Lady Commanders conquered Lebanon during both preseason meetings by sizeable margins.
"We just didn't hit the ball at all today," said Powell, who subbed out her fielders at several positions during the game trying to find the right combination. "We got one good hit. We beat them twice in preseason, both by a lot of runs and today we just didn't show up. I think we came in thinking it'd be easier than what it was. We didn't hit the ball, we didn't work together, pitchers were missing pitches.
"I'm switching my infielders every game until I can find one that works together, not the best players but the right ones, people who will get dirty for balls and do what we need to do to win games."
This was the first meeting between the local rivals during Rowlett's tenure on Blue Devil Drive.
"This is a great game," Rowlett said. "When we got them on the schedule, we knew it was going to be a tough game because our girls know their girls like the back of their hands. They played together on travel teams and so forth. I hope it's a friendly rivalry that will continue for years. It's good for both sides."
But in the meantime, both teams jump into district play today. Friendship hosts District 8-A rival Trousdale County in a 1 p.m. matinee while Lebanon travels to Murfreesboro for a 7 p.m. District 7-AAA tilt at Oakland.

Greenwood pitches Central to win under new lights
GLADEVILLE — Playing the first game under its new lights, Wilson Central stopped visiting Blackman 4-1 Monday night behind the pitching of Leevie Greenwood.
The sophomore scattered seven hits and no walks while striking out one.
Central scored twice each in the second and sixth innings as Courtney Billington belted an RBI triple and Tiffany Gooch, Shelly Stewart and Savana Bell run-scoring singles. Greenwood also had a hit.
The Lady Wildcat will jump into District 9-AAA play today when Gallatin comes in for a 4 p.m. junior-varsity game and a 5:30 varsity tilt.
Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 17 or by e-mail at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com.