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Brooks blasts grand slam as SM wins conference opener
Trish Brooks hit a grand slam home run to highlight Smoky Mountain’s 12-hit attack as the Lady Mustangs rolled to a 14-1 win at Brevard in the Western Athletic Conference softball opener on March 18.
Megan Taylor had an inside-the-park solo homer and was the winning pitcher. She gave up five hits and two walks while striking out nine.
“It was definitely our best game hitting so far, but their best pitcher was sick,” Coach Tony Quinn said. “We’ll see a different team next time we play them.”
Smoky Mountain shortstop Miriam Brown makes a throw to first during last week’s 14-1 rout of Brevard in the Western Athletic Conference softball opener. – Herald photo by Carey Phillips
Leading 2-1 in the fifth, SM loaded the bases with no outs on walks to Miriam Brown and Jessica Cabe around Taylor’s single. Brooks then belted a pitch over the fence in right field for the grand slam.
The Lady Mustangs made it 7-1 later in the frame when Heather Mathis walked with two out and scored on Stormy DeLucia’s double.
Taylor’s inside-the-park homer to open the sixth extended the margin to 8-1.
SM broke the game wide open with six runs in the seventh. DeLucia and Cassie Randall both singled with a run coming home on an error. After Shayla Jackson walked, an error allowed another run to score. Cabe had an RBI single, and two more runs crossed the plate on an error. Chelsea Elders drove in the final run with an infield out.
The Lady Mustangs scored in the first on Randall’s leadoff double and Cabe’s RBI single.
Liz Selle’s RBI single tied it for Brevard in the second.
SM loaded the bases in the third on Brown’s double, Taylor’s single and Cabe’s walk. Brooks’ sacrifice fly gave her team a 2-1 edge.
Taylor was three of five at the plate. Cabe reached in all five plate appearances with two hits and three walks. Randall and DeLucia were both two of four. Mathis was on base three times with a triple and two walks.
Quinn noted the team not only had 12 hits but made good contact throughout the game as just five batters struck out.
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