The Avery Lady Vikings picked up its first conference softball victory in three seasons in a 4-1 domination of Hendersonville in Newland on Monday.Avery junior right-hander Morgan Yackey pitched masterfully in allowing no hits to the Hendersonville nine, striking out three batters with the only players reaching base via walk.
Avery scored a run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. The score remained unchanged as the Lady Vikings defense made several sterling plays in both the outfield and infield. Errors doomed several contests for the Big Red throughout the season, but on this evening the team played error-free softball.
The Lady Vikings added three runs of insurance the bottom of the fifth which was more than enough run support for a dominant Yackey. Sierra Perkins doubled and scored on a fielder's choice, sliding under a tag at home plate for Avery's second run. Kaylea Davis scored on a passed ball from third base during the ensuing at-bat for a 3-0 advantage. The play moved Jessica Banner to third base, who scored on an RBI groundout from Ramona McGowan for the team's fourth and final run.
Yackey allowed a base on balls to Hendersonville in the top of the seventh, and the hitter came around to score, sliding into home plate on a passed ball on a play where the runner appeared to be tagged out. Undaunted, Yackey retired the next hitter with a line out to end the game."I was very proud of the girls today. This was truly a team win with every position making a defensive putout or assist. We had nine putouts, nine assists and three strikeouts, and most importantly no errors. Morgan threw her first no-hitter and was effective hitting her spots," Coach Merritt Yackey said after the win. "Offensively we hit the ball efficiently, moved runners along and showed good patience at the plate drawing six walks. This momentum should help with another conference game against Mitchell tomorrow."
The victorious Vikings doused coach Merritt Yackey with the water container in joy after the win. Avery will look to continue its winning ways on Tuesday with a Senior Day contest with Mitchell, then will take on Madison on Thursday to close the regular season.
