CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Montgomery Central Indians traveled to Kirkwood High School for an in-city softball matchup with the Cobras on Monday. The Indians struck first, but the Cobras put up five runs in the first two innings to take control of the contest, and led the rest of the way, winning 7-2, and giving Central their first loss of the season.

The Indians’ offense started out hot, with shortstop Ella Harp scoring Ashlee Phillips on an RBI single. Kirkwood’s shortstop Jayda Rhodes responded with a bases-loaded walk in the first, which began a hot streak for the Cobras. They were retired in the first, but a three-run second inning, highlighted by a 2 RBI double from third baseman Illiana Conley, one of her three hits on the night, put Kirkwood firmly in control.

“I’ve told our team we’re going to give up runs,” said Kirkwood head coach KJ Storz. “We’ve got to find a way to minimize the other teams’ offensive production and maximize ours. Tonight, we found a way to do that. They’re all bought into their roles and just making good appearances at the plate.”

Harp brought another one across with an RBI single in the top of the third, but that was all she wrote for the Indians’ offense. Addison Jackson came in relief for the Indians, only allowing two late runs in 4.1 innings pitched, but Kirkwood’s defense made it hard for Central’s bats to get going, and they fell for the first time this season.

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For Indians head coach Chris Jackson, it’s business as usual, win or lose.

“The team had good energy, we just couldn’t get going,” said Jackson. “Stranded too many runners, they got ahead early, and just couldn’t get back into it. Jackson pitched well on the back end, and that was encouraging to see. We’re just going to move on; it doesn’t change our mindset and our energy, and I’m excited about my team.

The Cobras have had to adjust to life without last year’s Clarksville Now Pitcher of the Year, Maddie Ratcliff, in the circle, but they’ve made it work. On Monday night, it worked incredibly well, as Kiara Conley came in relief and pitched four no-hit innings, while striking out four. Storz says it herself, this is their blueprint to win ball games.

“We don’t have a pitching staff that’s going to strike people out up and down the lineup,” said Storz. “Splitting the game and finding a way to get to the finish is how this team operates, and it was a good team win. We’ve got two good matchups with Northwest and CHS this week, and try to get two more wins this week.”

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