PRINCE’S NO-HITTER CARRIES VIQUEENS TO REGION CROWN

By Rickey Clardy

Sports Writer

UNIONVILLE – With Annie Prince of the Community Viqueens and Abrianna Davis of the Summertown Lady Eagles both in control on the mound, the Region 5-AA softball championship game between the two teams took on a feel that runs would be at a premium and whoever got the first run would have a decided advantage to take home the region crown.

The contest remained scoreless until the fifth inning when the Viqueens used two hits and some shoddy Lady Eagle defense to scratch out two runs while Prince finished with a no-hitter as Community took the region championship for the second consecutive season with a 2-0 win over the Lady Eagles.

“I told my pitcher you’ve got to be on and she was,” Coach Cam Farrell of the Viqueens said.  “She was hitting her spots.”

Prince walked the opening Summertown batter of the game, but the Viqueens got out of the inning as Gracie Daniel made an unassisted double play after making a catch on the infield.  Prince proceeded to retire 13 consecutive Lady Eagle batters, which included seven strikeouts and four straight K’s.

Meanwhile, hits and chances to score for the Viqueens were scarce off Davis.  A single, error, and intentional walk did put two runners on base in the third for Community with two outs, but the Viqueens could not plate a run.

As the game reached the bottom of the fifth, the Viqueens finally broke the ice.

The Viqueens put a runner in scoring position as Kailani Allen led off with a double off the fence.  The Lady Eagle defense held Allen on second as Carlie Blanton hit a ground ball to the left side, but the hesitation before throwing to first was enough for Blanton to beat the throw for a base hit.

A sacrifice bunt by McKenzie Tucker put two runners in scoring position with one out and brought Brooklyn Yoes to the plate.  Yoes pulled a ball in the hole that went off the glove of the shortstop for a hit, giving Community a 1-0 lead.

With runners on second and third, a Lady Eagle pickoff attempt from the catcher sailed into left field, scoring the second Viqueen run.  The second Community runner was out at the plate, but the Viqueens took their 2-0 advantage to the sixth inning.

The Viqueen defense came up big again in the sixth.  After a leadoff walk, the Lady Eagles had a runner picked off for the second time in the game on a double play as Community maintained its lead.

Two hits could not score a run for the Viqueens in the bottom of the sixth, setting the stage for the seventh inning.

The Lady Eagles did not go down easy as a walk and hit batsman put the tying runs on base with one out.  But a strikeout by Prince and a popup finished the deal and gave the Viqueens another region championship.

Along with her no-hitter, Prince finished with 10 strikeouts and four walks.

The Viqueens had seven hits, with Daniel leading the way with two safeties.  The Viqueens continued to put the bat on the ball as only one Community batter went down on strikes.

After going through a stretch with wins over Forrest, Loretto, and Summertown in district and region tournament play, Community will host Cheatham County in a game scheduled for Friday with a ticket to the TSSAA Class 2A state tournament awaiting the winner.

“Super proud of them and we’re taking it one game at a time,” Farrell said.  “There’s nothing like having home field advantage.”

“All my focus is on this next game and the girls are the same,” Farrell added.  “Looking forward to playing good softball.”

Summertown  0000000 –  0  0  2

Community      000020x –  2  7  0

Community  –  Gracie Daniel 2-for-3, Alana Tate 1-for-3, Kailani Allen 1-for-2, Carlie Blanton 1-for-2, McKenzie Taylor 1-for-1, Brooklyn Yoes 1-for-2.

WP – Annie Prince.

LP – Abrianna Davis

Photos by Ricky Clardy