The Community Viqueens pose with their District 9-2A championship hardware. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
Taylar Wessner is congratulated by Viqueen Coach Cam Farrell after her game-winning home run in the eighth inning. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
UNIONVILLE — Taylar Wessner sent a 2-2 pitch deep into the Unionville night in the bottom of the eighth inning for a championship-winning home run as the Community Viqueens edged the Forrest Lady Rockets 2-1 to capture the District 9-2A tournament softball crown Friday night.
Wessner’s homer ended the 1 hour, 43 minute contest as both teams squandered opportunities to gain the advantage in the later innings.
Pitching took center stage as Viqueen hurler Annie Prince and Lady Rocket starter Taylor Moreland matched pitches in the extra-inning game.
Forrest (19-10) played its second game of the night after making the trek from Chapel Hill following a 1-0 elimination game win against Cascade.
The Lady Rockets looked to take the early lead in the opening inning as Maddy Ille led off the game with an infield single.
After Ille stole second with no outs, the Viqueens got a break as an overslide at third base gave the Viqueens a double play and ended the Lady Rocket rally.
Community (26-2) used its speed to take the lead in the bottom of the inning. Mattie Maxey reached base on a one-out walk and stole second to move into scoring position.
After an extended at-bat to Carlie Blanton, the senior singled to score Maxey and give the Viqueens a 1-0 lead.
For the next two innings, base runners were scarce for the Lady Rockets as Prince struck out the side in the second and third innings.
Meanwhile, Moreland recorded a strikeout to squelch a 2-out Viqueen rally in the second and struck out a batter in the third as Community took its lead into the fourth inning.
After the first two Lady Rockets were retired in the top of the fourth, Ella Chilton sent a drive over the left-center field fence for a home run to tie the game at 1-1. Forrest continued to ride its momentum in the bottom of the inning as Moreland recorded a strikeout with a Viqueen runner on third to end the inning.
The Viqueens had another rally in the fifth as a lead-off single by Kamryn Farrell and a fielder’s choice put two runners on base with no outs.
But Moreland was clutch, striking out two and inducing a ground ball for the final out as the score remained tied.
The Lady Rockets threatened to take the lead in the top of the seventh.
A double to lead off the inning by Sydney Calderaro and a sacrifice by Marley Chilton put the go-ahead run on third with one out.
But Prince came through with a strikeout and a Forrest pop-out to end the scoring threat.
From that point, there were no runners for either squad as the game went into the bottom of the eighth.
After the first two Viqueen batters failed to reach base, Wessner came to the plate.
With a 2-2 count, the senior made solid contact for a no-doubter over the left-center field fence, giving Community its second consecutive district championship.
Five Viqueens had five hits, with Wessner’s home run leading the way.
The Lady Rockets had four hits, with Ille collecting two safeties to go along with the Chilton home run.
Prince struck out 13 while walking just one while Moreland struck out six, walked one and hit a batter.
Coach Cam Farrell of the Viqueens put his two seniors in prominent positions in the Community lineup as the two players drove in both Viqueen runs.
“Before we started, I told them I’m putting you at the top of the lineup,” Farrell said.
Farrell was likewise pleased with the team not backing off while facing tough circumstances.
“Our team is ready to go to war and they’re comfortable with it,” Farrell said.
“It’s very easy to just back off and quit but they’re still at it and still getting it done,” Farrell added.
With the win, the Viqueens will host Lewis County, the District-10-2A runner-up, in a Region 5-2A semifinal game on Monday.
The Lady Rockets will travel to Summertown, the District 10-2A champion, in the other region semifinal slated for Monday.
Forrest 000 1000 0 — 1 4 0
Community 100 000 01 — 2 5 0
Forrest: Maddy Ille 2-for-4, Ella Chilton 1-for-3, Sydney Calderaro 1-for-3.
Community: Carlie Blanton 1-for-4, Taylar Wessner 1-for-4, Gracie Daniel 1-for-3, Alana Tate 1-for-3, Kamryn Farrell 1-for-2.
WP: Prince
LP: Moreland
