The Case for the Hart County Lady Raiders!
It was a late season out of District game and the Hart County Lady Raiders had surprised the defending 5th Region champion Central Hardin Lady Bruins building a 6-0 lead after several innings. It may have come as a surprise to some as they did it doing the things that they had been doing all season long not swinging for the fences, but playing small ball using their speed and being opportunistic taking every extra base and taking advantage of other teams mistakes. Although Central Hardin would eventually push the power button and homered their way back to victory (11-7), it was still an example of the 2017 version of the Hart County softball team. 
Head coach Tim Highbaugh opened the season looking to show everyone that last year’s 26-win year wasn’t a fluke and a string showing in the 5th Region Tournament wasn’t a mirage. Although they lost a few seniors from last year’s team, the Lady Raiders started out 4-0 and outscoring their opponents 51-9 and then disaster struck when starting ace pitcher Aliyah Goble injured her arm and was out for the season. To compound things, Hart County would lose their next two games by a combined score of 16-3, but before anyone hit the panic button, freshman pitcher Katie Collins became the ace and slowly, but surely Hart County began their winning ways again.
Highbaugh has been getting great performances by several starters including sisters Mattie and Josie Guggisburg, junior Natalie Poynter, Haley Mouser and catcher Alexis Milby. After their trip to the Tennessee Softball Coaches Association Classic, the Lady Raiders have won 18-of-their-last 20 games and most noteworthy were their two victories over District Rival Green County.
After dropping a 8-3 game to the Lady Dragons on April 2oth, the Lady Raiders rebounded by returning the favor just three days later winning 3-1. then in the 18th District Tournament final, winning again 3-2 over the same time.
At 29-6 and awaiting the 5th Region Tournament only time and the luck of the draw will tell just how far this team can go, but if they were fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to meet Green County for the fourth time, it might be a game most definitely worth watching.
After all, after weathering the loss of their Ace and everything else they’ve gone through, the Lady Raiders could probably handle anything.
