DECATUR — In Newton County High School’s 16 games heading into this weekend’s district contest, senior Cassidy Blount firmly established herself as a premier hitter in the Lady Cougars’ already-explosive lineup.

Behind three hits Saturday, including a bases-clearing triple in the second inning, Blount pushed her average to .528 this season as Newton County (11-6) defeated Northeast Lauderdale High School 12-2 at Mack Fanning Stadium.

Blount’s triple in the bottom of the second plated two Lady Cougars and also sent her home after a Northeast Lauderdale (6-7) throwing error. The extra-bases hit put Newton County ahead 5-0 and set the pace for the rest of the contest, which was called early due to the MHSAA’s 12-runs-after-five mercy rule.

“Coming in and just getting that big hit just set the tone for the whole team,” Blount said. “Doing that, it’s really nice to get the whole team going. (Coach) Justin Chaney put me at lead-off for a reason — to start the team and start the lineup.”

The Lady Cougars opened their scoring barrage in the bottom of the first when freshman Landree Amis scored following a walk and a stolen base. In the bottom of the second, freshman Karlye Tolbird singled in senior Trinere Walker, and Blount’s self-scoring triple plated Tolbird and eighth grader Lizzy Hollingsworth, who singled in the frame, to push Newton County ahead 5-0.

“I thought we executed, and I thought small ball was the difference in the game,” Chaney said. “And then to have Cassidy (Blount) come up with some really big hits, overall, it was a great effort by our team.”

The Lady Trojans’ two runs in the contest came in the top of the third as Molly Moore scored Carrie Grace Baty, who ripped a single to center field to open the frame. Kerrion Thedford, who reached first base on a Newton County error, also scored in the inning to make the score 5-2.

“Right now we just haven’t been playing very well,” Trojans’ head coach Adam Thompson said. “We came out today, and we were a little flat against a very good team in Newton County. They’re a very good team, and if you’re not ready to play, this is what is going to happen to you. I’ve seen our team play better this year than what we showed today. We just have to go to work and get it rolling if we’re going to finish out the season as winners.”

 Northeast Lauderdale pitching errors gave Newton County two more runs in the bottom of the third, giving the Cougars a 7-2 lead, and Newton County scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth, including an RBI-single by Blount that padded the Lady Cougars’ lead by nine runs. Eighth grader Loren Ivey’s run in the bottom of the fifth gave Newton County its 12th run.

“This is a big win because it’s a division game,” Chaney said. “To come out here and now be 3-0 in the division, I’m extremely proud of them.”

Newton County travels to Northeast Jones High School on April 8. Northeast Lauderdale travels to Philadelphia High School on April 8.