Lady Maroon Devils Stick Fork in Avery Softball Postseason

BRYSON CITY - The Lady Maroon Devils of Swain County High School lived up to its moniker of being one of the best teams in 1A softball Friday evening, upending the visiting Avery Lady Vikings by the final score of 24-1.

Avery advanced to the second round after their second straight win over conference rival Hendersonville, upsetting the Lady Bearcats 12-4 on the road Tuesday afternoon, while Swain County no-hit Andrews High on Tuesday afternoon at home.

On this evening, the Swain bats were too much for the Lady Vikings to handle. Junior starter Morgan Yackey pitched into the fourth inning and scored the lone Avery run after reaching on a bunt single and crossing the plate on a Kaylan Deese RBI triple. Avery led 1-0 after the top of the first, but Swain rallied to score three in the bottom of the frame to lead 3-1.

For the rest of the evening the Lady Vikings could not muster a hit off the Swain County starter who ended the night with a total of 15 strikeouts. Swain broke the game open in the third inning with a seven-run inning, taking advantage of a number of Big Red miscues and wild pitches/passed balls.

Leading 10-1 in the fourth, the Lady Devils plated 14 additional runs. With the game easily in hand, injury was added to insult to the Vikings when pitcher Morgan Yackey was hit in the arm by a screaming line drive. Yackey collapsed in obvious pain, but was eventually able to leave the diamond under her own power as she was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.

Avery ends its season with a playoff victory and six wins overall. Only two seniors graduate from this season's squad, leaving high hopes that the Big Red can rebound with another great season next year.

Lady Vikings Cage Bearcats, Advance to 2nd Round of 1A Softball Playoffs

HENDERSONVILLE- For the second time in a week, the Avery Lady Vikings softball team handed a loss to the Hendersonville Lady Bearcats. Although the first win was a no-hit effort at home last week, the second win was even sweeter, a 12-4 playoff win on the road in Hendersonville Tuesday evening to advance to the second round of the 1A playoffs.

Avery got to work early with a pair of runs in the first inning. Morgan Yackey walked, stole two bases, and eventually scored on a fielder's choice for the first run. A one out hit by Jessica Banner scored Samantha Shook to put Avery up 2-0.

After a scoreless bottom of the first, Avery plated two more in the second inning to take a 4-0 advantage. Sara Wiseman reached base on a fielder's choice, followed by a Yackey single. After a sacrifice bunt by Sara Singleton moved the runners over, Shook singled to score both runners and give the Lady Vikings a working cushion.

Hendersonville scrapped across a run in the bottom of the second, then held Avery scoreless for the next three innings. The Lady Bearcats battled back to tie the contest at 4-4 with a run in the bottom of the fourth and a pair of runs in the fifth inning.

Undaunted, Avery's bats awakened off the Hendersonville relief pitcher, peppering base hits around the diamond in scoring four runs in the top of the sixth to regain the lead at 8-4. Three consecutive base hits from Shook, Sierra Perkins, and Kaylea Davis drove in three of the runs, while a Ramona McGowan single plated another.

Avery starter Morgan Yackey managed to work out of trouble on several occasions in the game, picking up key outs to strand Lady Bearcats runners on the base paths. The junior right hander struck out eight hitters while scattering five hits in a complete game effort.

Hendersonville threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning, but a groundout to pitcher left a runner on third base. Avery picked up four insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning as the team batted around for the second straight inning. Emory Deese and Singleton each ripped singles in the inning, while Avery took advantage of a pair of walks and a throwing error to bring home important runs.

The Lady Bearcats put a runner on in the bottom of the seventh, but was later caught stealing on a throw to third by catcher Haley Hicks. Yackey struck out the final hitter looking to seal the win.

Avery takes on Swain County in Bryson City in the second round of the playoffs on Friday. The Lady Maroon Devils are 22-2 on the season and defeated Andrews 10-0 in its first round contest.

Avery Softball Qualifies for 1A State Playoffs

The Avery Lady Vikings softball team will get to continue its season into the state playoffs, and they get to do so against a familiar foe.

The NCHSAA released the 1A West brackets early Monday morning, and the Lady Vikings qualified as a wild card with its 5-11 regular season to square off against conference rival Hendersonville. The Lady Bearcats finished the regular season with a record of 6-14 overall and qualified as the #2 seed out of the Western Highlands Conference.

Avery split the regular season series with the Lady Bearcats, losing the first contest 12-6 in Hendersonville in mid-March and winning its latest meeting 4-1 in Newland just last week.

The winner of Tuesday's game will take on the winner of Swain County (21-2) and Andrews (6-13).