In regular season-finale against Happy Valley, the Elizabethton Lady Cyclones escaped by the skin of their teeth to cap off an unblemished run through the Three Rivers Conference.

That game served as a wake-up call, and on Monday night in the District 1-AA semifinal contest against the Lady Warriors, Elizabethton left no doubt by taking care of business in five innings in capturing a 15-0 victory over Happy Valley.

“The girls came out really focused after that last game,” said Elizabethton head coach Ken Hardin. “Lauren (Brickey) pitched really well and of course Maci (West) had a huge game in hitting those two home runs.

“We had several girls that really stepped up tonight.”

With Brickey in full control from the pitching circle, the Lady Warriors struggled to get runners on base to force the issue with the Lady Cyclones as Brickey fanned nine batters in the contest while allowing only three hits.

Meanwhile, West was a beast that could not be caged as the senior outfielder blasted a two-run home run in the first inning driving home Brickey who had picked up Macie Herrmann on a double giving Elizabethton a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

The Lady Cyclones added one more in the inning after Haley Fair reached on an error and came home on a single by Hannah Edwards as Elizabethton led 4-0 after one complete inning of play.

Elizabethton doubled up the score in the second taking advantage of three walks by Happy Valley pitching to load the bases and then Kira Dillard brought home Herrmann and Brickey.

A Baylee Creasy fielder’s choice chased home Fair before Maggie Johnson’s single picked up Dillard to give Elizabethton an 8-0 advantage at the end of two innings.

After a scoreless third inning, the Cyclones slammed the barn door shut thanks in part to West cranking a grand-slam home run bringing home Johnson, Herrmann, and Brickey to make it a 13-0 game at that point and giving West six runs batted in.

From there, the Elizabethton defense took care of business in the top of the fifth inning to close out the contest.

Makaela Hughes, Kadie Havner, and Abby Holt registered the lone three hits for Happy Valley.

In Tuesday action, the Lady Warriors and Sullivan East will meet in the loser bracket final while Elizabethton and Unicoi Co. square off in winner’s bracket play.

For the results from those games visit us online at www.elizabethton.com or pick up Thursday’s edition of the Elizabethton Star.