HUNTER COOKSTON
Writer
The Marion County softball team is coming off a District Tournament championship in 2025. The Lady Warriors opened the season on the road at Red Bank, defeating the Lady Lions 11-0.
The Lady Warriors scored early in the first inning on a single up the middle by Emma McCallie, driving in Albany Harris and Brylee Thomasson. Lillian Nixon doubled, bringing in Destiny Winters, and Hannah Adams followed with her own double, allowing courtesy runner Taitum Sims to score.
In the fourth inning, Marion County exploded for seven runs to put the game away. McCallie doubled to right field, driving in her third run of the night. Winters walked with the bases loaded to add another run, followed by Nixon drawing a walk. Adams tripled to clear the bases, and Jazzy Layne drove in a run on a groundout to the second baseman.
The Lady Warriors pitching was stellar, with Brynna Thomasson finishing with seven strikeouts and McCallie pitching an inning in relief. Marion County started the season with a no-hitter.
The Marion County baseball team also opened the season on the road, defeating Chattanooga Central 10-9 in a come-from-behind victory.
Greyson Hoback got the scoring started for the Warriors with a single to left field. Presley Bowman reached on an error, allowing the second run of the game to score. Before the first inning ended, Chattanooga Central had built an 8-2 lead.
The Warriors refused to lay down, responding in the next frame. Eli Thacker singled to right field, bringing in Neno Humphrey and Brett Webb to cut the deficit in half. In the third inning, Bowman drove in a run, and Zek Walters followed with a single to bring Bowman home.
Eli Blevins hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. The fifth inning saw Marion County take the lead for good, starting with a Hoback single. With two outs, Bowman doubled to left field, giving the Warriors their first lead since the first inning.
Thacker earned the win on the mound, finishing his outing with four strikeouts. Despite defensive struggles, Marion County found a way to get it done.