By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
LEEDS – On Thursday, the Leeds softball team took to the road, heading up I-65 to take on the Homewood Patriots in the season opener for both teams. Despite three scoreless innings to start, Leeds experienced an offensive explosion in the fourth inning and added a run in the seventh to seal the 6-0 win and start the Jesse Turner era at Leeds the right way.
Both teams fought through the first three innings with neither team crossing the plate. However, in the top of the fourth inning, the Lady Greenies reeled off five runs while holding serve on the defensive side.
The scoring started after Katrina Poe (sub runner) and Sophie Gromko got on base and Maddie Payne drove in the first run of the game as Gromko came home and Poe advanced to third. Next up, Marley Miller hit a pop fly that brought Poe and an error would bring home pinch runner Dallas Parker, who stole second earlier on. After Rhyan Carson took advantage of a Homewood error to get on base and then Tanner Galloway would bring her home. Selah Larson would then drive in Galloway to close out the big fourth inning for the Greenies.
The game would go scoreless until the final inning where Gromko would fly out and bring home Chesney Robison to close out the scoring in the game.
Ashlynn Mayfield led the Greenwave from the mound, pitching the complete game one-hit shutout for Leeds. From the plate, Maddie Payne had two hits in four plate appearances for an RBI to lead the team.
Coach Jesse Turner and his girls are off to a great start in an attempt to improve from a 3-14 record that Leeds had last year.
Next up for Leeds is another road game, this time up I-59 to Lincoln on Tuesday evening.