Mt. Juliet goes 7-4 at Commando Classic

From staff reports

HENDERSONVILLE — Mt. Juliet opened the season with a 7-4 week at the Commando Classic at Drakes Creek Park last week.

Coming off a State Tournament appearance in coach Brad Rowlett's first season, he said this "could be classified ass a rebuilding year".

"We are looking for the right combination at this time and I was pleased with the effort from the entire team," Rowlett said. "We have the potential to compete with anyone we play and we will only get better."

TUESDAY

Riverdale 10, Mt. Juliet 1

The Lady Warriors scored seven times in the third inning to saddle Lauren Woodard with the loss.

Woodard did get a pair of hits while Lauren Payne, Ashton Stowe and Emily Bombard each banged out one.

Mt. Juliet 9, White House 2

Savannah Sanders allowed three hits and overcame a pair of Mt. Juliet errors to pick up the win.

Payne pounded out four hits and Kelsie Craighead three with three runs scored. Savanna Oliver, Kristen Hammer and Kristin Jackson each added a hit.

WEDNESDAY

Lincoln County 3, Mt. Juliet 1

The Lady Falcons scored three times in the last inning to snatch the victory. Sanders took the loss after allowing seven hits while the Lady Bears comitted a pair of erorrs.

Bombard doubled and scored on Woodard's single in the third for Mt. Juliet's only hits and run.

Mt. Juliet 7, LaVergne 3

Woodard took the win by allowing six hits and overcoming five errors.

Mt. Juliet took advantage of five LaVergne miscues. Shelby Woodard led the Lady Bear offense with a grand slam in a five-run third inning. Bombard banged out a pair of hits and Payne, Craighead and Oliver each added one.

THURSDAY

Mt. Juliet 6, Blackman 0

Shelby Woodard spun a six-hit shutout with the help of flawless defense.

Hammer and Hannah Shepard, a freshman and sophomore respectively, hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning. Bombard finished with two hits and Shelby Woodard, Stowe, Craighead and Desiree Kasper each collected one.

Mt. Juliet 4, Bolton 0

Senior Lauren Woodard matched her sophomore sister by one-hitting the Lady Wildcats while the Lady Bears committed just one error. She allowed a fourth-inning double and struck out seven.

Bombard tripled and doubled while Craighead tripled and Shelby Woodard doubled. Kasper collected a single.

FRIDAY

Mt. Juliet 4, Maryville 1

Shelby Woodard scattered eight hits but only had one error committed behind her as Maryville left the bases loaded twice. Mt. Juliet scored four times in the fifth inning on two hits and three Lady Rebel errors.

Bombard drove in two runs with a triple. Payne picked up a pair of hits and Stowe one.

Coffee County 2, Mt. Juliet 1

In a matchup of State Tournament teams, the Lady Raiders made do with just four hits and a Lady Bear error against Lauren Woodard, who doubled in the sixth and scored on her sister's single.

Bombard, Craighead and Payne picked up a hit apiece.

SATURDAY

Mt. Juliet 4, Oakland 0

Lauren Woodard tossed a one-hit shutout against the eventual runner-up in the pool-play finale as Mt. Juliet picked up a No. 2 seed.

Bombard and Stowe each had two hits and Lauren Woodard, Payne and Oliver one apiece.

ELIMINATION ROUND

Mt. Juliet 3, Upperman 0

Lauren Woodard's second shutout of the day ousted the Lady Bees, who reached the Class AA State Tournament last spring. She allowed a pair of hits and fanned four.

She also led the offense with a triple and a bunt single. Payne, Stowe and Oliver each added a hit.

Smyrna 4, Mt. Juliet 1

The Lady Bulldogs scored three times in the international tie-breaker inning to eliminate Mt. Juliet, handing Lauren Woodard the loss.

Jackson and Bombard singled for the Lady Bears' only hits.

Mt. Juliet will open District 9-AAA play at Portland on Thursday with the junior varsity opening play at 4:30 p.m.