The Avery baseball and softball teams played their respective conference openers yesterday evening at Owen High School.
In softball, the Lady Vikings held the talented Owen club scoreless through two innings before the Warlassie bats woke up with a pair of runs in the third and a four-spot in the fourth on the way to a 12-0 victory.
Owen pitcher Allie Brandon struck out nine Vikings and allowed only one hit to give the Warlassies the victory.
Brandon is 3-0 on the year for Owen. Morgan Yackey started the contest for the Big Red on the mound and also pitched in at the plate with a triple.
Brandon is 3-0 on the year for Owen. Morgan Yackey started the contest for the Big Red on the mound and also pitched in at the plate with a triple.
In baseball, the Avery junior varsity team, in what amounted to basically its second practice of the season which happened to be a regular-season game, was defeated 11-0. Jared Clark and Daniel Huff took the mound in the contest and Avery was able to see live pitching at the plate and get field work that has been scarce through a wet and white winter.
In the varsity contest, Avery's conference opener was an improvement from its 15-0 whitewash against Wilkes Central a week earlier, losing only by a 7-1 final score. Catcher Zac Hall had a single and a double at the plate for two of Avery's four hits in the contest, and scored Avery's lone run on an Owen wild pitch in the top of the fifth. Senior Seth Phillips pitched five innings on the mound, with Chris Childress pitching one inning of relief.
Owen used a four-run fourth inning to put away the game. Warhorse hurler Lewis Fraser (2-1) struck out 12 Vikings and went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Michael Harvin drove in a pair of Owen runs.
Avery had five different runners on base through three innings, but squandered the opportunities as none of the runners crossed the plate. Defense was much improved from the opening contest, as Avery was able to wriggle out of trouble in multiple innings with solid infield play. The Vikings will travel to Hampton on Friday for a non-conference contest against the Bulldogs.
The Avery track and field team was also in action on 
Tuesday at Owen High School. A number of athletes took part in various running, jumping, and throwing events, and the team will be traveling across the region all spring long in preparation for the season-ending conference, regional, and state meets.
Tuesday at Owen High School. A number of athletes took part in various running, jumping, and throwing events, and the team will be traveling across the region all spring long in preparation for the season-ending conference, regional, and state meets. NOTE: The Avery girls soccer team's game this afternoon against #9 ranked West Wilkes WILL BEGIN AT 5:30 p.m., rather than the original 6 pm start time. Avery will be looking to improve to 4-0 with a victory in Miller's Creek.
