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Rebecca Thomas struck out nine and tossed a three-hit shutout Thursday as Carroll County earned a 2-0 Southwest District softball victory over visiting Tazewell.

Thomas gave up a double to Tiffany Harris, the first batter she faced, before retiring the next six Bulldogs in order. She gave up a leadoff walk in the third, before sitting Tazewell down in order again. The Bulldogs’ only real threat came in the sixth as they put two runners on with two outs. Thomas whiffed Katelyn Mitchell to end the threat, however.

Both of Carroll’s runs came off starter Keisha Burton in the fourth inning. After Thomas singled, Sherry Gillespie reached on a fielder’s choice and Kelly Coulson drew a walk. Both moved up on a wild pitch, before Kendra Galyean smacked a two-run single to provide the game’s only scoring.

Galyean went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs to lead Carroll County (5-8, 3-4 SWD). Thomas had Carroll’s only other base hit.

Tazewell 000 000 0 - 0 3 0

Carroll 000 200 x - 2 3 1

Burton and Lester (T); Thomas and Rippey (CC). 2B - Harris (T).

Carroll Co. 4, Graham 2

Rebecca Thomas struck out 11, walked one and allowed just three hits April 29 to lead Carroll County to a 4-2 Southwest District softball victory over Graham in Hillsville.

Despite giving up a run in the top of the first inning, Thomas retired 14 of the next 15 batters she faced. With Thomas breezing on the mound, the Cavaliers answered at the plate in the bottom half of the first.

Amber Cannaday tied the game after reaching on an error and later scoring on a throwing error. Kelly Coulson delivered the biggest blow in the inning with a run-scoring double to left. Coulson put the Cavs ahead 3-1 when she later scored on Leanna Rippey’s RBI single.

Carroll County tacked on a run in the second as Sherry Gillespie drove Grace Ayers home with an RBI single.

Rippey went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Cavaliers, while Gillespie and Coulson each went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Kayla Jones also had a base hit for Carroll County.

Graham 100 001 0 - 2 3 3

Carroll 310 000 x - 4 5 2

Miller and Branch (G); Thomas and Coulson (CC). 2B - Stutso (G); Coulson, Rippey (CC).