One of Ooltewah's batters tried to overshadow Kayla Boseman's pitching performance Thursday at Soddy-Daisy. It was Boseman.
The junior right-hander was a gang of one against the Lady Trojans as Ooltewah knocked them from a first-place tie in the loss column at the top of the District 5-AAA softball standings with an 11-0 victory in six innings.
McMinn County (6-1 5-AAA) has a slight edge over Ooltewah (13-3, 5-1) in league wins and handed the Lady Owls their district loss. Soddy-Daisy (15-7) is now 3-2 in the district.
"There's a whole lot of softball to go. We still get them at our place," said Ooltewah coach Jon Massey, whose team is scheduled to host the Lady Trojans on April 24 and has McMinn County visiting on May 3 in a rainout makeup game. "A good pitcher can beat good hitting at any time. East Hamilton has an eighth-grader that scares me. We won't be overlooking anybody."
Boseman, who had eight strikeouts, controlled Soddy-Daisy's lineup from start to finish. The Lady Trojans managed four baserunners, three on walks, with one getting as far as second base.
The other runner was in the fourth inning, when Cameren Swafford grounded a ball toward the hole on the left side that glanced off the glove of third baseman Mabry Carpenter. Presumably she accepted the tough error that enabled her pitcher to have a no-hitter.
Massey said he talked with Boseman around noon Thursday and sensed she was ready. Then her offense provided her three runs in the top of the first.
"A three-run lead that early bodes well for most pitchers," Massey said. "As long as we swing the bat and put the ball in play, we've got a chance to be successful."
Boseman lined a single to right in the first on the way to a 4-for-4 performance in which every hit was struck solidly. Her day included a double to right-center in the second and a two-run homer to left-center in a six-run third.
"I've just got to sit back and watch the spin on the ball," Boseman said. "If it's inside, I try to turn on it. If it's outside, I try to go the opposite way."
Tyler Sullivan went 2-for-3 for Ooltewah, doubling in a run in the sixth and later scoring. She also had an RBI fielder's choice in the first.
Lady Owls leadoff batter Tiera Lemon reached base four times in five plate appearances, going 2-for-4 with a two-RBI triple and two runs scored. Batting next, Shelby Sutton was 2-for-5, both doubles, and drove in a run. She also scored twice.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.