Avery County's middle school baseball and softball teams have been busy this week with lots of action.
On Tuesday the Avery Middle School girls softball team picked up a 9-8 victory over Bowman. The Lady Panthers built a commanding 9-0 lead with the hot bat of Serena Ramos and her teammates' offensive firepower, while starting pitcher Paige Henderson kept the Lady Bulldogs in check for the first four innings of play.
Bowman's bats woke up in the fifth inning, however, to score seven runs to cut the Avery lead to a pair at 9-7. Shannon Smith came on in relief and was able to quell the Lady Bulldog threat to preserve the advantage. The Lady Panthers could not add to its lead, but Smith finished the game strong inside the circle, striking out eight Lady Bulldogs in her three innings of work to pick up the save and preserve the Avery win.
Tuesday afternoon the Avery Middle baseball team hosted Johnson County for a doubleheader. A talented Longhorns middle school squad defeated Avery 22-1 in the first game of the twin bill, but the Panthers played much better in the second game, holding Johnson County to its lowest output of the season offensively and playing the Longhorns to its closest game of the year in a 4-2 loss.
Avery rallied in the fifth and final inning, scoring a run and loading the bases. With the potential winning run at first base, however, Johnson County recorded the final out to hold on for the win. Avery fell to 0-5 on the season and plays two additional games this week, highlighted by a game this afternoon against Bowman in Newland.
Cranberry softball took on Harris Middle School on Wednesday afternoon in Newland in a make-up game from a rainout on Monday. The Lady Wildcats played with tenacity and intensity, but the talented Lady Blue Devils squad was victorious in a 13-1 final score.
The Cranberry baseball team was also in action on Wednesday afternoon at home, hosting the Harris baseball team in its own make-up contest from Monday. Cranberry gave up eight runs over the course of the first two innings, but refused to give in, rallying to tie the contest. Harris broke the tie in the latter innings. Cranberry mounted another rally in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, but Harris held on to take a 12-9 victory.
Ian Franklin with 3 for 4 at the plate in the game, while Hunter Guinn started on the mound and threw four solid innings. Bryce Pittman and Ian Franklin came on in relief to finish the game for the Wildcats.
Cranberry returns to action with a doubleheader this afternoon at home against East Yancey. More information on the entire week of middle school sports action can be found in next week's edition of the Avery Journal-Times!
On Tuesday the Avery Middle School girls softball team picked up a 9-8 victory over Bowman. The Lady Panthers built a commanding 9-0 lead with the hot bat of Serena Ramos and her teammates' offensive firepower, while starting pitcher Paige Henderson kept the Lady Bulldogs in check for the first four innings of play.
Bowman's bats woke up in the fifth inning, however, to score seven runs to cut the Avery lead to a pair at 9-7. Shannon Smith came on in relief and was able to quell the Lady Bulldog threat to preserve the advantage. The Lady Panthers could not add to its lead, but Smith finished the game strong inside the circle, striking out eight Lady Bulldogs in her three innings of work to pick up the save and preserve the Avery win.
Tuesday afternoon the Avery Middle baseball team hosted Johnson County for a doubleheader. A talented Longhorns middle school squad defeated Avery 22-1 in the first game of the twin bill, but the Panthers played much better in the second game, holding Johnson County to its lowest output of the season offensively and playing the Longhorns to its closest game of the year in a 4-2 loss.
Avery rallied in the fifth and final inning, scoring a run and loading the bases. With the potential winning run at first base, however, Johnson County recorded the final out to hold on for the win. Avery fell to 0-5 on the season and plays two additional games this week, highlighted by a game this afternoon against Bowman in Newland.
Cranberry softball took on Harris Middle School on Wednesday afternoon in Newland in a make-up game from a rainout on Monday. The Lady Wildcats played with tenacity and intensity, but the talented Lady Blue Devils squad was victorious in a 13-1 final score.
The Cranberry baseball team was also in action on Wednesday afternoon at home, hosting the Harris baseball team in its own make-up contest from Monday. Cranberry gave up eight runs over the course of the first two innings, but refused to give in, rallying to tie the contest. Harris broke the tie in the latter innings. Cranberry mounted another rally in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, but Harris held on to take a 12-9 victory.
Ian Franklin with 3 for 4 at the plate in the game, while Hunter Guinn started on the mound and threw four solid innings. Bryce Pittman and Ian Franklin came on in relief to finish the game for the Wildcats.
Cranberry returns to action with a doubleheader this afternoon at home against East Yancey. More information on the entire week of middle school sports action can be found in next week's edition of the Avery Journal-Times!
