A home run by Allie Smith led Lebanon to a 4-1 win Thursday over visiting Lee High in a game played in a light to moderate rain.

With the win, the Pioneers solidified their hold on second place in the Clinch Mountain District behind Virginia High.

"I just wanted to hit it hard and I guess that’s what I did," said Smith. "I didn’t think it was over so I went ahead and ran hard. We were a little nervous but we were able to come together as a team in the fifth inning."

Lebanon (11-2, 4-2) had trailed 1-0 since the second inning. Ashley Dickenson singled for Lee High. With one out, Rachel Wynn doubled to left-center to put runners at second and third. Lauren Hatfield followed with a RBI single.

In the circle for the Generals (9-8, 1-6), Bethany Rupert kept Lebanon bats at bay through the first four innings, allowing only one hit and no runs.

"Rupert is only a 10th grader and she’s really coming along," Lee High coach Mike Twigg said. "She’s improving and I think the whole team is improving. We just don’t have a lot to show for it yet."

Lebanon scored all of its runs with two outs in the fifth. All were unearned, as Haley Bowman reached on an error. Catlin Helton followed with a single to put runners at first and second.

Lindsey Wallace came through with a crucial single to right, scoring Bowman to tie the game. Smith then launched her three-run blast.

"The hit by Wallace was huge and it brought Allie [Smith] up," Lebanon coach Shelia Adams said. "Lee High is playing better, it was a tough game. I had seen their scores and knew they had improved."

The Generals kept battling. In the seventh inning, they brought the tying run to the plate with two outs after hits by Shelby Adams and Kristi Cress. But a strikeout ended the game.