Addy Keylon and Cheyanne Sales have become one of the most dynamic softball duos in the area.
As Ooltewah's Lady Owls prepare to travel to face Cookeville in the Region 3-AAA semifinals Monday, they expect those two to continue to lead a top-notch offensive attack.
"Addy is our leadoff hitter, and she gets on base nearly every single time," first-year Ooltewah coach Kerilyn Mongar said. "When she gets on, she is going to score - whether we bunt her over or she steals. Then Cheyanne comes up in the third spot and it just works. Addy gets on and Cheyanne drives her in every game."
Keylon has scored 48 times and Sales has batted in a whopping 54 runs in just 32 games.
Both were integral parts to Ooltewah's third-place finish in the Class AAA state tournament last year, and they believe the team is beginning to jell at the right time once again.
"Our time is right now," said Keylon, who combined with Sales to smack seven home runs in the District 5 tournament. "Even though we lost to Walker Valley and Soddy(-Daisy) both times in the regular season, we are much stronger now. We have the motivation and drive to win."
Sales leads the Lady Owls (19-13) with a .511 batting average and has 16 doubles and 12 home runs with 19 singles. The Kennesaw State signee also has yet to make an error behind the plate and has five pickoffs and 70 putouts.
"I didn't start as a freshman, and that motivated me to work hard and earn my position for good," said Sales, who recently hit a front-toss pitch at her ankles out of the park during practice. "I like to provide for my team with my power at the plate and in the field by keeping runners at bay. For me, hitting is all about repetition. I will hit extra at the field and at home because I never want to get in a slump."
Sales has been a premier power hitter with 31 home runs over the past three seasons.
Still a speedster and sensational center fielder, Keylon has added much more pop at the plate this season. The left-handed hitter has eight home runs among her 14 extra-base hits and is batting .484 with 35 RBIs. The Bryan College signee is 23-for-23 in stealing bases.
"Our new coaching staff came in and encouraged me that I was more than just a bunter," Keylon said. "They told me I could be a triple-threat. Coach Mongar helped me get my timing down, and my dad has always helped me with my swing. Cheyanne also kept reminding me to stay back and let the pitch travel. When I do that, I've had some really good hits."
Although the Lady Owls finished third in the regular-season standings, they outslugged Soddy-Daisy, 15-8, for the final spot in the region tournament and fell just short to Walker Valley, 6-4, in the district tournament final.
Ooltewah has a record of 131-36 for the past four years and has averaged over 12 hits and 11 runs per game against league competition this season.
"Our entire lineup is a threat," Mongar said. "If one person is not hitting, you can expect the eight others to get on base and do the job. Our confidence returned about two weeks ago, and I think we will be pretty hard to stop."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.