RUPERT- The best-of-three regional series is off to a good start for the Greenbrier West Lady Cavaliers as it took them just five innings to shutout the Mount View Lady Knights behind the arm and bat of junior Brilee Redden.
Redden went the full five innings in the circle, allowed just one hit, and had 12 strikeouts. At the plate, she was a perfect 4-4 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored, and three RBIs.
Greenbrier West needs just one more win in the series to clinch a state tournament berth next week.
And if it is as easy as it was on Monday, they are in good shape.
West scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning that started with a double from Redden. Diana Porter was then hit by a pitch and then two quick outs gave the Knights hope they would get out of the frame unscathed.
But cross that off the list.
A walk to Brooklyn Adkins loaded the bases and that’s when Kyndall Taylor stepped up and ripped a 3-run double to left field for West’s early lead.
Redden’s homer came in the second and she made the score 4-0 after helping her own cause.
Redden walked two Knight batters in the third, but she averted any type of threat when she struck out Phoebe Dudgeon with two runners on.
In the bottom half, the Cavs technically put the game away. Preslee Treadway and Adkins reached base via free passes then a couple batters later, Brooke Patterson’s sac bunt scored Treadway. Adkins would then score on a passed ball and Patterson crossed home plate on a wild pitch and after three, West led 8-0.
West added some more runs on passed balls and another sac bunt from Patterson, and Redden’s RBI double in the fourth was the cap of the evening.
Taylor went 1-3 with a run and three RBIs for the Cavaliers. Patterson scored two runs and had two RBIs.
West will make the long return trip to Mount View on Tuesday, May 20. A win puts the Cavaliers in the state tournament next week. If West loses, they will host the Knights in a decisive game three.
