Alana Tate lays down a sacrifice bunt for the Viqueens in the opening inning. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
UNIONVILLE — The Community Viqueens took an early lead and got out of jams in the first three innings, but the Viqueens could not escape the fourth inning as the Cheatham County Lady Cubs tied the game and scored a sixth inning run to beat the Viqueens 4-3 in a Class 2A softball sectional contest Sunday afternoon.
The Viqueens dodged a major jam in the first inning as an infield single and two walks loaded the bases with one out.
But Community pitcher Annie Prince fanned the final two batters and ended up striking out the side as the Viqueens kept the Lady Cubs off the scoreboard.
Community took the lead in the bottom of the first as Anna Haskins led off with a double.
After an Alana Tate sacrifice put Haskins on third with two outs, Gracie Daniel hit a line drive off the Lady Cub pitcher for a base hit, scoring Haskins and giving the Viqueens a 1-0 lead.
After the Lady Cubs left two runners on base in the second and one runner in the third, the Viqueens added to their lead in the bottom of the third.
Tate started the 2-out rally with a single that hit hard off the fence on a line. Tate stole second and scored as Daniel drove in her second run of the game on a double, giving Community a 2-0 lead.
The fourth inning started off quietly as Daniel struck out the first two Lady Cub batters. Even with a 2-out walk, the Viqueens were poised to escape without damage, but Macie Harter of the Lady Cubs drilled a 3-2 pitch over the fence for a 2-run homer as Cheatham County tied the game 2-2.
After a single, walk and ground out put Lady Cub runners on second and third with one out in the fifth, Cheatham County went ahead as a wild pitch plated a run. On the same play, the runner from second tried to score, but the Viqueens tagged the runner for the out as the Lady Cubs ended their at bat with a 3-2 lead.
The Viqueens rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth.
With one out, Taylar Wessner singled to the outfield and Tate beat out a grounder for an infield hit.
After the second out, Haylee Webb’s single drove in the tying run.
But Community could not go ahead as the Lady Cubs were successful in catching the Viqueens in a rundown between first and second for the third out before another run could score as the game was tied 3-3 heading to the sixth inning.
Cheatham County scored the go-ahead run in the sixth as two errors along with a base hit put runners at the corners.
After an intentional walk loaded the bases with no outs, a single by Cannon Johnson drove in a run and gave the Lady Cubs a 4-3 advantage.
But Cheatham County missed an opportunity for a big inning as a Lady Cub was out at home on the base hit and another runner was out on a rundown between third and home as the Viqueens escaped a big inning.
The Viqueens mustered a walk in the bottom of the sixth but could not score. With the top of the order up in the seventh, Community went 3-up-3 down as its season came to a close.
Tate, Daniel, Webb, and Carlie Blanton each had two hits for the Viqueens as Community outhit the Lady Cubs 10-6.
Prince started on the mound for the Viqueens with Daniel in relief in the fifth inning.
With a team that had no seniors and only two juniors, Community finished the season with district and regional championships and a 24-12 record.
Cheatham Co. 000 211 0 — 4 6 0
Community 101 010 0 — 3 10 2
Community: Alana Tate 2-for-3, Gracie Daniel 2-for-3, Haylee Webb 2-for-3, Carlie Blanton 2-for-2, Anna Haskins 1-for-4, Taylar Wessner 1-for-4.
WP: Dowlen
LP: Daniel
