CLEVELAND LADY RAIDER base runner Yoshi Hooks slides safely into home to score Cleveland’s only run in a 2-1, eight inning loss to the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Lady Patriots, Monday. Banner photo, LYNNAE ROBERTS
Hooks, one of three Cleveland seniors honored by teammates on Senior Night, gave up only three hits to the Lady Patriots in the hard luck loss. Taylor also allowed only three hits and ended the day with 11 strikeouts. Hooks finished with nine. Both pitchers fanned the side in the third.
Jacora Parker and Karli Bledsoe also received Senior Night accolades and played their final game at McKenzie Field.
“The girls played much better than they did when CSAS was here last time. They have had a few good ballgames like that under their belt. I could not be more proud of them. We lost that game by a run, but I couldn’t be more proud of them today,” said Cleveland coach Connie Stobert.
The Lady Raiders got on the board first when Hooks led off the bottom of the fourth with a double to left-center field. Hooks stole third and raced to the plate when Hannah Holland laid down a squeeze bunt.
The Lady Patriots produced two fifth inning singles and were helped by a Cleveland error knotting the score at 1-1. A sparkling diving catch of a pop foul by Nanaea Haruo squelched a brewing CSAS rally.
The Lady Patriots played small ball in the top of the eighth, taking advantage of a 1-out walk and a single to take a 2-1 lead.
Carly Frost gave the Lady Raiders one last shot with a 1-out double. Frost moved to third on a ground ball, but was left stranded on a third out fly ball.
“Yoshi, nine strikeouts on her Senior Night. She just came out here and pitched her heart out. Everybody showed a lot of heart. They showed a lot of fight and that is what I’m proud of them for. They did a great job,” said the Cleveland coach.
“It was just a little bloop that got us. It’s unfortunate that happened. But, that’s what makes a ballgame sometimes. It’s not always that huge hit over the fence or a line drive.”
The Lady Raiders will take some time to prepare for the District 5-AAA tournament beginning Friday at Soddy-Daisy.
LADY PATRIOTS 2, LADY RAIDERS 1
CSAS 000 010 01 — 2 3 0
Cleveland 000 010 00 — 1 3 1
WP: Brianna Taylor. LP: Yoshi Hooks. 2B: Hooks, Carly Bledsoe (C). Records: CSAS 12-15; Cleveland 12-19.
