McCord takes charge for HVA
HARDIN VALLEY —Emalee McCord pulled off a great impersonation of Kayleigh Wynne, former Hardin Valley Academy pitching ace and offensive superstar, last week.
McCord, Lady Hawks staff ace who is only a sophomore, fired a six-inning no-hitter to blank Bearden 10-0 Tuesday, April 4, at HVA — with 11 strikeouts.
If that wasn’t enough, McCord went 4-of-4 at the plate.
“It’s a good day when your pitchers pitch well and they also produce offensively,” said Whitney Hickam-Cruze, HVA head coach, whose team began the week 7-5 overall, 4-1 in 4-AAA.
Despite 3-1 loss at Powell Friday, April 7, “Emalee threw well again,” Hickam-Cruze said.
Offensively against the Lady Panthers, Sydney Dukes, junior centerfielder, went 4-of-4 at the plate while Mikaela Chavis, junior left fielder, was 2-of-3.
“Mikaela Chavis is our other pitcher and she is just as capable [as McCord] of being a good two-way player as far as hitting and pitching well,” Hickam-Cruze said. “Both of them have been doing a great job of pitching. I think they’re a good combination, they work well together.”
However, “Our problem right now is we’re not hitting the ball at all,” Hickam-Cruze added. “We’ve lost a lot of games by one run.
“But our pitching and defense are keeping us in ballgames.”
