The ball beats Gracie Daniel as she starts her dive to the plate, but the ball is not handled as Daniel reaches the plate with Community’s first run. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL — The Community Viqueens used some timely hitting and rode the no-hit pitching of Annie Prince to defeat the Forrest Lady Rockets 3-0 in a weather-shortened District 9-2A softball contest Thursday night.
Community (14-1, 2-0) used abc softball to score two of its three runs while Prince kept the Lady Rocket bats at bay.
The Viqueens took the early lead as the game began nine min
Annie Prince of the Viqueens fires a pitch during her no-hit performance. Prince struck out eight while walking one. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
utes ahead of its 5:30 scheduled starting time.
With two outs, Gracie Daniel singled and stole second.
On a 2-2 count, Haylee Webb singled, scoring Daniel and giving Community a 1-0 lead.
Pitching ruled the game for the next 2 1/2 innings as Prince dueled Lady Rocket starter Taylor Moreland.
Moreland struck out the side in the second and fanned another in the third as Forrest (6-4, 2-1) stayed close.
Meanwhile, Prince was true to the test as the junior struck out two in the first and third innings and struck out the side in the second.
The Lady Rockets had only one base runner through the first three innings as Ella Chilton reached base on an infield error.
The Viqueens added to their lead in the fourth.
With one out, a liner to right field off the bat of Taylar Wessner could not be handled on a shoestring attempt.
With the ball settling near the outfield fence, Wessner circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run to give Community a 2-0 advantage.
The Viqueens were not through in the inning as Alana Tate followed with a base hit.
A stolen base and an error moved Tate to third and brought Kamryn Farrell to the plate. Farrell came through with a sacrifice fly, scoring Tate and giving Community a 3-0 lead.
The Lady Rockets picked up their second base runner of the night as Marley Chilton drew a walk with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but a strikeout by Prince ended the inning.
Both teams went down in order in the fifth as the game became official with threatening clouds on the horizon.
With the Viqueens up to bat in the sixth and four minutes after the fifth inning had ended, the game was halted.
With weather warnings in the area, the contest was declared over with the Viqueens taking the victory.
Wessner’s home run and Mattie Maxey’s double highlighted six safeties by six different Viqueens.
Prince struck out eight and walked one in her no-hit performance.
Moreland was impressive for the Lady Rockets, striking out four while walking none.
Community 100 200 — 3 6 1
Forrest 000 00 — 0 0 1
Community: Mattie Maxey 1-for-3, Gracie Daniel 1-for-3, Haylee Webb 1-for-3, Carlie Blanton 1-for-2, Taylar Wessner 1-for-2, Alana Tate 1-for-2.
WP: Prince.
LP: Moreland.
