Gracie Daniel comes up firing a throw to first base after fielding a one-hopper at short stop against Liberty Creek on Thursday. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
MURFREESBORO — After rallying in the seventh inning to defeat Westview earlier on Thursday, the Community Viqueens saw their remarkable season come to a close on Day 2 of the Class 2A state softball tournament, falling to Liberty Creek 12-1 in five innings.
Simply put, Community couldn’t get out of its own way and committed nine crushing errors in the loss.
Liberty Creek jumped on Community right out of the gates and plated four runs in the top of the first inning.
The Wolves took advantage of three Viqueen errors in the top of the inning to help pad the early 4-0 lead.
Community got back one run in the bottom of the inning and saw Anna Haskins lead off the inning with a bse hit to left.
She later scored on a RBI single by Mattie Maxey.
But Liberty Creek would not be denied.
The Wolves went on to score one in the second, two in the third and blew the game wide open with a five-spot in the top of the fourth.
In total, Community connected on five hits in the loss, with Maxey going 2-for-2 to lead the Viqueens at the plate.
Taylar Wess
Senior catcher Carlie Blanton surveys the field before settling in to start an inning on Thursday. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
ner got the start in the circle and was tagged for 12 total runs, only five of which were earned.
The Viqueens’ season ends with a 30-5 overall record.
Liberty Creek 412 50 — 12 10 0
Community 100 00 — 1 5 9
Starting pitcher Taylar Wessner gets the signal from the dugout before settling in to deliver a pitch. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
Community: Anna Haskins 1-for-2, Taylar Wessner 1-for-2, Mattie Maxey 2-for-2, Haylee Webb 1-for-2.
WP: Belcher
LP: Wessner
COMMUNITY 3, WESTVIEW 2
In their first game of the day on Thursday, Community got some seventh-inning magic go extend the run in the Class 2A state tournament and drove in three runs in the top of the seventh, then held on to beat Westview 3-2.
After six innings of shutout baseball, the Viqueen bats finally came alive in the top of the seventh.
Gracie Daniel and Mattie Maxey led off the inning with back-to-back singles before Kamryn Farrell drove in the first run of the game on a sac-fly lifted to left, scoring Daniel.
With two outs, it was Alana Tate who drove in a second run for the Purple and Gold when she mashed a double to left, scoring Maxey.
Community got one final run in the game which came when Aliana Leverette connected on a ground ball single to score Tate.
Although the Viqueens built a 3-0 lead, there are no easy wins in the state tournament.
Westview came roaring back to within a run after a leadoff single and a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh cut the Community lead to one.
But after the Lady Chargers’ home run, starting Viqueen pitcher Annie Prince settled in and struck out the side to keep the Viqueens alive in the postseason.
Daniel went 2-for-3 with a double to lead the Viqueens at the plate, while Tate went 1-for-2 with a double as well.
Prince was dominant for Community and allowed just two earned runs on three hits while striking out 16 batters.
She only issued one walk as well.
Community 000 000 3 — 3 7 0
Westview 000 000 2 — 2 3 0
Community: Carlie Blanton 1-for-2, Gracie Daniel 2-for-3, Mattie Maxey 1-for-3, Kamryn Farrell 1-for-2, Alana Tate 1-for-2, Aliana Leverette 1-for-1.
WP: Prince
