by Patrick Carpenter | Apr 29, 2015 | News Slider, Sports
McCarley Thomas and Mimi Cartwright, both Lipscomb softball stars, share many similarities. The young women were rival pitchers in high school, but at Lipscomb, they play with each other. During their senior year in high school, they pitched against each other in the Region 5-AA semifinals. Cartwright (Goodpasture, 18-4) pitched a two-hitter, struck out 14 and walked none while Thomas (Lipscomb Academy, 10-13) pitched a three-hitter, struck out 15 and walked none in her final high school game. Their positions aren’t their only similarities — both were homecoming queens their senior year and have been roommates at Lipscomb the past two years. “We had a mutual friend who said ‘Hey, ya’ll should room together’ and so we met up and here we are,” Thomas said. Since her time on the high school mound, Cartwright has switched positions and is the Lady Bisons’ starting third baseman. Thomas, standing at 5-11, is listed as the third pitcher in the line-up and has seen action in relief several times this season. While there is sisterhood and similarity, the two have different types of personalities. Cartwright said she loves competition. She said she trives off it, and that is obvious. “When I’m challenged to something I just know that I want to win — like I’m gonna win and that’s all I think about,” Cartwright said. During her time at Goodpasture she also lettered in basketball and is known as a pool shark by her close friends. On the other hand, Thomas said she enjoys writing outside of being on the field. “I would much rather just go climb up in a tree and...
by Chad Johnson | Mar 24, 2015 | News Slider, Sports
It was a tale of two games for the Lipscomb softball team on Tuesday afternoon. After dropping the first game 9-2, the Lady Bisons bounced back winning 3-1 in game two against Western Kentucky at Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium. In game one, the Lady Toppers opened the score in the third inning, but Lipscomb tied the score in the bottom of third. Junior outfielder Brittany Elmore hit a single to right field, then stole second before junior infielder Baylee Williams drove her home on a single up the middle. Things began to unravel for the Lady Bisons in the fifth inning as the Hilltoppers capitalized on two hits, two walks and two hit batters for five runs. Elmore scored the only other run in the bottom of the fifth on an error. She also stole three bases, bringing her season total to 27. The Lady Toppers went on to score two more runs in the sixth before adding their ninth and final run in the last inning. Junior Tanner Sanders was accredited with the loss. She surrendered seven runs, five hits, walked seven and struck out two batters in five innings of work. Sophomore McCarley Thomas gave up two hits and two earned runs in two innings of relief. Following the first game, Lipscomb coach Kristin Ryman stressed that the team needed the leaders to step up. “Leadership’s a big thing for us,” Ryman said. “We’ve got to play with a little bit more fire. It starts with our seniors — them bringing that fire and leadership everyday in practice and then bringing it on game day.” In game two, senior outfielder Brianne Welch opened the third inning with...
