By Chris Yow
SPRING HILL — Lily Kate Richards was dominant in the circle on Thursday, shutting out visiting Brentwood and leading her team to an 8-0 win in District 11-AAA play.
Richards allowed just two hits while notching 13 strikeouts, including striking out the side to open the game.
“Lily Kate was phenomenal in the circle,” Summit coach Jenny Stevenson said. “We have all the confidence in the world in her when she is pitching.”
While Richards set the tone early on defense, the Spartan offense wasted no time giving their pitcher some room to work, though she wouldn’t need much.
Hannah Sundberg doubled home a run to get her stellar day off to a solid start. She finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Three batters later, Dixie Corbin made the most of her only at-bat in the contest, with a two-RBI single to give Summit a 3-0 lead and all the run support Richards would need.
Summit scored a pair of runs in each of the next two innings and their final run came in the fourth inning.
Sundberg doubled again in the second, this time bringing home a pair of runs. It was Maleia Scott who singled home a run in the third before Morgan Woodside’s sacrifice fly scored Scott.
Stevenson said her team came out ready to play, despite frigid weather with wind gusts up to 10 miles per hour.
“Our girls know how competitive this district is and how important it is to get off to a good start against this Brentwood team,” she said. “They have a really solid program, and every game against them we know is going to be a battle.”
Stevenson added that every District 11-AAA outing is a battle in 2021.
“This is the most competitive and balanced I think this district has been since I’ve been here,” she said.
Summit currently sits behind only Dickson County, which is 4-0 in district play, in the standings, but it’s early.
“We just want to continue getting better, and hopefully (this) win will help us get ready for a really good tournament this weekend,” Stevenson said.
The Lady Spartans will travel Friday to Soddy Daisy for the Lady Trojan Invitational.