Annie Prince delivers a pitch for the Viqueens. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
MURFREESBORO — The Community Viqueens had base runners in six of the seven innings but could not come up with the big hit as the Liberty Creek Wolves defeated the Viqueens 7-0 in a TSSAA Class 2A state tournament winners’ bracket contest Wednesday night.
After the Viqueens defeated Kingston earlier in the day, Community was pitted against the defending Class 2A state champions.
Community (29-4) threatened in the opening inning as a walk to Anna Haskins and a single by Taylar Wessner put two runners on base with one out.
The Viqueens could not score as the Wolves retired the final two batters in the inning.
The Viqueens turned the tables and got out of a jam in the top of the second as the Wolves put two runners on base with one out and loaded the bases with two outs.
Annie Prince, who was the starting pitcher for the Viqueens in both games during the day, put out the fire with a strikeout to keep Liberty Creek off the board.
An error allowed Viqueen Haylee Webb to reach base to start off the bottom of the second, but Wolf hurler Kaylor West struck out the side as the game remained scoreless.
Liberty Creek broke the ice in the third as Maddie Floyd drilled a home run to give the Wolves a 1-0 lead.
A one-out double by Mattie Maxey put the Viqueens in position to tie the game in the third, but a ground out and strike out ended the threat.
The Viqueens came up with a big play in the fourth to stop a Wolf uprising.
After Hailey Langston doubled to give Liberty Creek a runner on second with no outs, Community catcher Carlie Blanton threw out Langston on an attempted theft of third as the score remained 1-0.
The Wolves kept their 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.
Alana Tate singled to lead off for the Viqueens.
Tate stole second and third and attempted to score on an overthrow after the steal of third, but the Liberty Creek throw from the outfield was on the mark to nab Tate at the plate.
With Community still within striking range as the game went to the sixth, the wheels finally fell off for the Viqueens.
The Viqueens once again appeared to have wiggled out of another jam as a bang-bang play at third went in favor of Community, leaving one runner on base for the Wolves with two outs.
But four consecutive Liberty Creek hits, including home runs by Mallie Grizzle and Floyd broke the game open and gave the Wolves a 6-0 lead.
The Viqueens could not come up a hit after putting runners on first and second with one out in the sixth as their struggles with runners in scoring position continued.
The Wolves added an insurance run in the seventh to complete the scoring.
Five Viqueens had a hit each as Community left seven runners on base.
Prince struck out 10 while walking three for the Viqueens.
With the loss, Community faces the unenviable task of needing to win three games on Thursday in order to reach the Class 2A championship game.
The Viqueens will start their quest with a game against Westview on Thursday morning.
Liberty Creek 001 005 1 — 7 12 1
Community 000 000 0 — 0 5 2
Community: Mattie Maxey 1-for-3, Taylar Wessner 1-for-3, Gracie Daniel 1-for-3, Kamryn Farrell 1-for-3. Alana Tate 1-for-3.
WP: West
LP: Prince
