The Rogersville Review

ROGERSVILLE - Two of East Tennessee's best softball pitchers traded zeroes for more than eight innings Tuesday.

Cherokee's Whitney Gilbert, the 2008 Northeast Tennessee Sports Writers' All-Northeast Tennessee Player of the Year, and Kadey Robinson, a 2008 All-NET pitcher from Elizabethton, battled for eight scoreless innings Tuesday.

When the infield dirt had finally settled, Gilbert had outdueled Robinson for the complete-game, 1-0 shutout.

Cherokee's Abby Hughes ended the duel in the bottom of the ninth with a solid single to left field, scoring runner Brittany Johnson from second base.

"It was going to be a matter of just one break for either team," Lady Chiefs Coach Charlie Christopher said.

"Elizabethton is a good, competitive team and we like to play good competition," said Christopher.

Batter after batter was retired by the two aces. Gilbert struck out 12. When runners reached, they were stranded by good pitching and solid defense.

"We had a nice douple play over here by Lou (Lindsee Price). We did a good job hanging in there and not getting frustrated," the Lady Chiefs coach said.

"We just didn't get the hits in order," added Christopher. "We'd get a couple on base and have the opportunity to score, then strand them."

The Lady Chiefs' shutout of Elizabethton proved there were no lingering effects from Monday's 4-1 loss at Hawkins rival Volunteer, which was still rolling along undefeated at press time.

"We just have to settle down," Christopher said of her young team, now 4-3, 2-1 in the Inter-Mountain Athletic Conference. "We're still working through some kinks. We had a different lineup today. It's just going to be one day at a time. I'm proud of them for sticking with it."

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