FHS softball wins three

The Farragut High School softball team has battled its share of injuries this season, and the Admirals also have endured some offensive struggles throughout the 2016 campaign.

But at the recent BSN Region II Challenge, Farragut began to see its offense come to life.

The Admirals (21-12) won three games in dominating fashion. In fact, the only force that appeared to be able to stifle the Farragut bats was Mother Nature.

The rains spoiled the Admirals’ good times Saturday afternoon. Farragut had a 1-0 lead against Ooltewah when lightning in the vicinity of FHS’s Bellamy Field halted action between the Admirals and the Owls.

Rain rolled in a short time later and washed out the remaining tournament games.

“After [senior second baseman] Madison [Etter’s] injury and [catcher] Hannah [Stephenson’s] injury at the beginning of the year, we’ve struggled,” Farragut coach David Moore said. “Our lineup that looked really deep early is working its way back up again after the injuries.

“We’ve had some role players really step up for us and I’m hoping we can keep this going because we have the [District 4-AAA] tournament coming up and you want to be peaking at tournament time.”

Farragut opened the BSN Region II Challenge on Thursday, April 28, with a pair of wins. The Admirals routed Knoxville Catholic 10-2 in the first game. FHS then closed the first night of the event with a 12-0 victory over Tazewell High School from Virginia.

Against the Irish, the Admirals’ offense was potent and balanced. Kelsie Tuggle went 2-for-2 with a double and two runs. She also knocked in three runs. Andrea Sarhatt was 2-for-3 with a triple and three runs scored.

Pitcher Callie Moore got the win and also had a big day at the plate. She had two hits, including a double, and drove in a pair of runs.

The heart of Farragut’s order also made significant contributions. Lexi Lamoree went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a triple while Mary Claire Coyne had two hits (including a triple), two runs and two RBIs.

“We went well from gap to gap in that game,” coach Moore said.”

Farragut’s attack continued to put up big numbers against Tazewell in another lopsided victory.

Tuggle went 3-for-3 with a home run and three runs. She also drove in two runs. Coyne had two hits and drove in three runs. She scored two more while Lamoree went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Tori West also got a hit and scored three runs

as she was used as a courtesy runner.

Pitcher Kayla Hindle started in the circle and had four strikeouts in three innings. Lakyn Moore hurled a scoreless fourth to close out the game. The Farragut pitching duo tossed a combined two-hit shutout.

On Friday night, the Admirals shut out Jefferson County 8-0 in another game that went four innings due to a tournament time limit.

Callie Moore gave up two hits and had two strikeouts against the Patriots. Sarhatt had two hits, three stolen bases and a run. Coyne went 2-for-2 with a homer. Morgan Stapleton had a pair of doubles and scored a run.