James Clemens keeps winning, gets sweep over Bob Jones
Bailey Anderson swings through a pitch in action from James Clemens vs Bob Jones (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)
MADISON- James Clemens completed the regular season sweep over cross-town rival Bob Jones Tuesday night with a 7-0 win. The Jets are now 4-0 in Class 7A, Area 8.
In the two games, Bob Jones scored just 1 run in 12 innings against James Clemens while the Jets have put up 22 runs. Lack of hitting and fielding miscues hurt Bob Jones, as they have all season.
Emily Jacklin pitched the shutout for James Clemens allowing just 2 hits, both singles by Darian Mitchell. She is now 11-1-1 on the season and has not lost a game as a starter.
She lost a game the first week of the season in relief.
The Jets pounded out 9 hits off Bob Jones starting pitcher Hannah Pope. They also got 3 walks and 3 errors. Shelby Booker nearly hit for the cycle with a single, double, and triple. She also scored 2 runs and stole 2 bases.
The Jets scored two in the first. Abbey Payne singled Booker home and later scored. Booker doubled home a runner in the fourth. Laura Lin Chaffin doubled home a run in the fifth and scored on a passed ball. In the sixth, Jacklin doubled home two runs.
Still, Bob Jones had their highlights. A running catch by rightfielder Lamesha Russell stopped a rally by James Clemens. In the seventh, James Clemens loaded the bases. After a sacrifice fly, Hannah Pope struck out Abbey Payne to end the threat.
Bob Jones Coach Kent Chambers has seen improvement in the team recently. Bob Jones started the season 1-9 and have since won 8 out of 12.
“We didn’t win this game but we have improved from the first game with them and we’re going to continue to improve,” Chambers said. “We are real close to having a set lineup. We knew it would be a slow start but we’ve got our record back to almost .500 three weeks out from the area tournament. That is when we want to be peaking.”
Bob Jones starts only 2 seniors. Strong sophomore and junior classes are coming through now. Two players, Pope (a sophomore) and catcher McKenna Ray have offers to play at the next level.
Hannah Pope went 3-0 last week with a 6-0 shutout against Hazel Green. She got wins over Baker and Whitehouse (Tenn.) in tournament action.
“She is pitching very well,” Chambers said. “We didn’t make all the plays behind her today and James Clemens has a very good team. I’m very pleased with the outfield play of Lamesha, Nicole (Buccieri) and Madi (Duthu). They are playing well for us.”
Hannah Pope
Chambers has settled on Bailey Anderson, a sophomore, at shortstop.
Catcher McKenna Ray is in her first year as a starter after transferring from Buckhorn.
“I’m enjoying playing with all the girls. We all like each other and mesh well on the field,” said Ray, a junior. “The future is bright for us, we have had some tough games but we have improved and each game makes up better. The seniors this year have helped us by being positive bringing their experience. Overall the whole team makes you better.”
Due to muddy field conditions at Bob Jones the game was played at James Clemens home field.
