MJ's Roark one-hits Central

GLADEVILLE — On a wonderful evening for football, Mt. Juliet's Kenzie Roark held Wilson Central to a single first down – er, hit – in a 5-0 shutout Wednesday night.
Roark held Central to a two-out bloop single by Jessica Faircloth in the fifth inning and a two-out walk to Leevie Greenwood an inning later. She struck out 14.
Mt. Juliet jumped to a 3-0 first-inning lead, more than enough for Roark.
"Central's a good ballclub and they're going to put the ball in play," Mt. Juliet coach Kacey Pedigo said after her Lady Bears improved to 16-5 for the season and 4-1 in District 9-AAA. "We were fortunate tonight. Kenzie threw the ball well and we hit the ball well."
A walk and an error set up Merrick Martin's two-run single up the middle in the first inning. She scored on Hannah Irwin's bloop double to left field.
Greenwood battled to keep the Lady Bears right there until Mt. Juliet got two more scores in the sixth. Amy Buwalda singled and her pinch runner, Chelsea King, came home on Shelby Barrett's liner to left field. Barrett scored on Caroline Mason's double to left-center.
Greenwood allowed five hits and five walks while striking out seven.
"We did not hit the ball well tonight," Central coach Ashley Putman-Serbin said after her Lady Wildcats fell to 7-5, 4-1. "For [Greenwood] to give up only four hits, you should still be able to win the ballgame. She pitched an excellent game for us. She kept the hitters at bay and we should have been able to score some runs."
Both teams will be in weekend tournaments out of town. Mt. Juliet will travel to the Soddy-Daisy Classic and open with Red Bank as the first of three games Friday before single-elimination play Saturday. Central will go to Huntsville, Ala., today for the Bob Jones Tournament. The Lady Wildcats will open with Pisgah and Hartselle.
Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 17 or by e-mail at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com.