SHAWN DIGIANFELICE
Sports Writer
The Community Viqueens split a pair of games on Friday evening in the Megan McCrary Beech Invitational beating Franklin Co. 13-2 before falling 5-3 to Goodpasture in the late game.
Community 13 Franklin Co. 2
The Viqueens (3-1) rupted early and never looked back Friday, cruising to a 13–2 victory over the Franklin Co. Rebelettes behind a dominant offensive performance from Gracie Daniel in a pool play game shortened by the time limit.
Daniel was nearly unstoppable at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple, double, and single, while also driving in two runs and scoring twice to lead the Viqueens’ 11-hit attack.
Community wasted little time taking control, plating seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. Haylee Webb sparked the rally with an RBI double before Daniel delivered a two-run triple. An error brought another run home, and Alana Clark added an RBI on a groundout. Brooklyn Yoes followed with a run-scoring single before Anna Haskins capped the inning with an RBI triple to give the Viqueens a commanding 7–0 lead.
The Viqueens continued to pour it on in the second inning, adding five more runs on four hits. Mattie Maxey highlighted the inning with a two-run double, while Yoes drove in another run with a triple. Haskins added an RBI single as Community stretched the lead to 12–1.
Community added its final run in the third inning when Kamyrn Farrell delivered an RBI single to center.
Daniel was just as effective in the circle as she was at the plate. The right-hander earned the win, allowing two hits and two runs (one earned) over three innings, striking out five and walking one.
Haskins joined Daniel with a big day at the plate, also collecting three hits and two RBIs, while Yoes added two hits and two runs batted in. Maxey and Clark each drove in runs as the Viqueens won the first of two Friday night games in the Beech Tournament.
Franklin Co: 0-1-1 — 2- 2-2
Community: 7-5-1 — 13-11-2
Community: Gracie Daniel (3-3) 3B,2B, 2 RBI, 2 runs. Anna Haskins (3-3) 3B, 2RBI, 1 run. Brooklyn Yoes (2-2) 3B, 2 RBI, 2 runs. Mattie Maxey (1-2) 2B , 2RBI, 2 runs. Webb (1-3) 2B, RBI, 1 run. Kamryn Farrell (1-2) RBI, 2 runs.
Winning Pitcher: Daniel
Game 2: Goodpasture 5 Community 3
The Viqueens turned in a solid offensive effort in game two of the night but came up just short, falling 5–3 in another time limit shortened game to Goodpasture.
Community (3-2) struck first in the top of the opening inning. Hayden Moore reached and later came around to score when Alana Tate delivered a single to give the Viqueens an early 1–0 lead.
Goodpasture responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning. The Cougars tied the game following a Community error, and Khloe Sparks followed with an RBI single down the left field line to give Goodpasture a 2–1 advantage.
The Cougars added to their lead in the second inning when a groundout by Ashton Dorris plated another run, pushing the margin to 4–1.
Goodpasture stretched the lead again in the third when Laura Beth Blessing launched a solo home run to left field, putting the Cougars ahead 5–1.
Community mounted a late push in the fourth inning. Ryleigh Lassiter delivered the biggest swing of the night for the Viqueens, blasting a two-run home run to center field to cut the deficit to 5–3.
Lassiter finished the game 1-for-2 with two RBI’s Moore, Tate, Kailani Allen, Victoria Wells, and Lassiter each recorded a hit for the Viqueens.
Lassiter took the loss for Community. The right-hander pitched three innings, allowing five runs — only two of them earned — on four hits while striking out one and walking two.
Community: 1-0-0-2 —- 3-5-2
Goodpasture: 2-2-1-X —- 5-4-0
Community: Ryleigh Lassiter (1-2) HR, 2RBI, 1 run. Hayden Moore (1-2) 1 run. Alana Tate (1-2) RBI. Kailani Allen (1-1). Victoria Wells (1-2).
Losing Pitcher: Lassiter
Community junior Gracie Daniel (4) had a day at the plate and on the mound going 3-3 with a triple and double and was the winning pitcher In Viqueens 13-2 win over Franklin Co.