Avery Baseball and Softball Games at Hendersonville postponed

This afternoon's scheduled Avery baseball and softball games at Hendersonville have been postponed due to rain.

Avery baseball has rescheduled the Hendersonville contest to April 20th. The Vikings contest with North Wilkes which was originally scheduled for that same date, will now be either rescheduled or cancelled. A make-up date for the softball contest is TBD.

Avery Middle School Softball postponed today

AMS has confirmed that this afternoon's Avery Middle School softball home game has been postponed due to weather. The next scheduled game for the Lady Panthers will be this Monday's doubleheader against Cranberry Middle School.

Lady Vikings Soccer at Polk Postponed; Schedule Changes

Avery women's soccer's conference match on Wednesday at Polk was postponed due to inclement weather. The match will be made up near the end of the regular season.

A number of changes to the upcoming soccer schedule have also been made as follows:

- The McDowell match scheduled in early May has been cancelled.

- The Owen home match that was originally scheduled for Friday, April 10th has been moved up two days to Wednesday, April 8th.

- The Avery/Mitchell match scheduled for April 29th has been moved up one day to April 28th.

The Lady Vikings will next take the field at MacDonald Stadium on Monday, March 30th against the Madison Lady Patriots.

Avery Softball Blanks Asheville Christian Academy

The Avery girls softball team shut out Asheville Christian Academy 15-0 in Asheville on Tuesday afternoon.

In the top of the first inning, the Lady Vikings proved they were not to be trifled with on this day, rapping the softball and scoring ten runs to build an insurmountable lead.

The Big Red tacked on a pair of runs in the top half of both the second and third innings, as well as a final run in the top of the fifth, ,just for good measure.

"The girls got off to a great start in the top of the first inning scoring 10 runs. We are beginning to hit the ball with better consistency throughout the entire line up which is due to the girls hard work and focus during practice," Lady Vikings head coach Merritt Yackey said after the win. "Having 16 base hits in the game is very good."

Not only did the Lady Vikings swing the bats well, but the girls also played flawless defense on the diamond, committing no errors in the entire contest. "Defensively we did not have an error for the first time this year. Kaylea Davis made a couple of good plays at second base as did Kaylan Deese at third," Coach Yackey added.

Morgan Yackey was dominant on the mound as she put together one of her strongest performances inside the circle this season.

"Morgan had a strong showing on the mound striking out seven batters in five innings, allowing no walks and only giving up one weak hit which proved to be their only base runner," Coach Yackey stated. "I am hopeful that by scheduling these non-conference games and experiencing some success, we will be better prepared mentally and physically to do well in conference games starting later this week."

Yackey, Sara Singleton, and Sam Shook combined for nine of Avery's 16 hits in the contest, with five runs scored and four RBI. Avery also received multiple hits in the lineup from freshman Justina Rieger, who went 3 for 3 with a pair of RBI and a run scored.

The Lady Vikings return to the diamond with a Western Highlands Conference game on Friday at Hendersonville.

Vikings Baseball Upends 'Landers

Just what the doctor ordered.

That was the reaction by Vikings head baseball coach Benny Wellborn following his team's convincing 12-1 win in five innings over the Cloudland Highlanders on Tuesday afternoon in Roan Mountain.

Having just lost a heartbreaking 6-5 game at Freedom on Monday, Avery turned around for the second half of back-to-back games as they took on the 'Landers. The Vikings sent senior right-hander Adam Pate to the hill as the 'Landers countered with Seth Miller.

Avery began Tuesday's game with a similar issue as the day before, stranding two runners on base in the top of the first. The 'Landers were retired 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning, and the Vikings offense went to work in the top of the second. Avery tallied eight runs on four hits in the top of the second inning off Miller and reliever Cody Bullwinkle. Cloudland hurt its cause by issuing four walks in the inning and also hitting a batter, while the highlight of the inning was a three-run homer to right field by shortstop Brooks Oakley.

Cloudland was unable to answer the Avery rally with any runs in the bottom of the frame, and Avery added five insurance runs in the top of third, keyed by a two-run double by Adam Pate and a two-run single from pinch-hitter Jon Clark.

Starting pitcher Adam Pate made the lead stand up, as he gave up a single Cloudland as left fielder Jacob McKinney singled in the bottom of the third inning and came around to score on a base hit from shortstop Michael Hyden. It was all the 'Landers could muster off the tough hurler as Avery took the victory after five innings due to the ten-run rule.

"Today was just what the doctor ordered. We've been doing a lot of things right and a few things wrong, and today we had pretty much a complete ballgame," Vikings head coach Benny Wellborn remarked after the win. "It's what the kids needed and what we needed as a team. I couldn't be happier for them. They played loose today and that was a big key."

Pate pitched a complete game gem for the Big Red, as he surrendered one earned run on three hits, with two walks and six strikeouts. Miller, Bullwinkle, and Hyden each saw work on the mound for Cloudland in the contest.

"Anytime you get a complete game out of somebody it does nothing but help the staff, especially when you have three games a week. It was good to see Adam throwing strikes. We've been averaging seven walks per game which has put us in a difficult position to win games," Coach Wellborn added. "We only gave up a couple of walks today and when they put the ball in play we made plays, which is absolutely vital for our staff and does nothing but help us down the road."

Pate and catcher Steven Daniels each had a pair of hits in the game. In all, the top four hitters in the Viking lineup drew six walks and combined to score eight runs in the victory.

Avery travels to Hendersonville for a key 1A conference contest this Friday.

Avery Baseball Loses Narrowly at Freedom

The Avery Vikings varsity baseball team lost a tight game on Monday afternoon at Freedom High School in Morganton by a final score of 6-5, but bounced back quickly with a 12-1 win in five innings over the Cloudland Highlanders in Roan Mountain on Tuesday.

Chris Childress got the start for Avery in Monday's contest and pitched scoreless baseball through two innings. Unfortunately the Avery bats were unable to heat up in the interim to give their senior southpaw a lead to work with.

The Big Red's fortunes changed in the top of the third inning, however. Childress reached base on an error with one out in the frame, while Adam Pate followed him with a single. Cleanup hitter and catcher Steven Daniels brought the runners home with a two-RBI double to put Avery on the board with a 2-0 lead.

Freedom did not allow the lead to last long, though. The Patriots sent 11 batters to the plate, benefitting from three walks and three hits in the bottom of the third to score five runs to take its first lead of the game at 5-2. Neither team scored through the next two innings, although both teams stranded multiple runners on base during that span.

In the top of the sixth Avery rallied with a pair of runs to cut the deficit to 5-4. Jack Buchanan walked and Brooks Oakley singled to lead off the inning to put two runners on. Senior Sutton Stanley brought both teammates home with a two-out double to left field. The Vikings had the opportunity to retake the lead in the inning, but the squad left the bases loaded when Adam Pate flew out to centerfield.

Freedom added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth off reliever Stanley. A pair of one-out walks came back to haunt the right-hander as a key base hit scored a run to push the Patriot lead to 6-4.

Avery had one final opportunity in the top of the seventh to tie or take the lead. Steven Daniels led off with a double and reached third base on a Freedom error. The Vikings missed out on a chance to tie the contest as the runner at third was sent home on a passed ball but was tagged out on a bang-bang play at home plate.

Avery remained undaunted, however, and pushed a run across as Joe Buchanan doubled to score Jack Buchanan. The Big Red could not complete the comeback, however, as a popout with two runners on ended the game to leave the Vikings a run shy.

"We made a few mental errors, but we did some things right. We hurt ourselves by leaving nine runners in scoring position, though," Avery head baseball coach Benny Wellborn said after the game. "The bottom line is when we had our chances on multiple occasions, we didn't push runners across."

Daniels finished the game 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI, while second baseman Brooks Oakley was 2 for 4 with a run scored. Pate, Stanley, Buchanan, and Daniel Huff also had a hit in the loss.

Chris Childress took the loss on the mound, as he gave up four earned runs on six hits, while walking five hitters and striking out a pair of Patriots. Stanley threw two innings of hitless relief and gave up a single run with two walks and two strikeouts.

Middle Schools Busy with Softball Action

Both the Avery and Cranberry Middle School softball teams were in action on Monday afternoon. Avery Middle School met a buzzsaw in the Cane River Lady Rebels, a talented team that often plays upwards of 100 games a year in traveling tournaments. The Lady Rebels were too tough to tame, as they defeated the Lady Panthers 15-0 in four innings.

Avery had a hard time getting hits off the Lady Rebel pitcher, but broke through with a base hit from Nikki Wright. The team loaded the bases in the final inning of play, but could not plate a run.

"Our girls don't quit. We've still got some trouble in our outfield, giving up too many errors out there, but we're getting a little better each time," Avery head coach Luke Henderson remarked after the game. "We won a pair last week to get us back to .500. Today we didn't have the best effort, but we hung in and tried to do the best we could."

The Lady Panthers are 2-3 on the season, and play a doubleheader this afternoon at the Avery Little League field against East Yancey. The team hosts Harris for a game on Thursday afternoon and will take on Cranberry in a doubleheader to close regular season play on Monday.

Cranberry's Lady Wildcats softball squad turned in one of its best offensive showings of the season, but it was not enough to overcome a tough North Mitchell squad, falling in an 18-7 final score in five innings on Monday.

Avery's Holly Cook started on the mound and went the distance, mixing up pitches and striking out a number of North hitters. Cranberry made several outstanding plays in the field as well, including a perfect relay throw home on a hard hit ball which was caught by catcher Mariah Lusk, who then tagged out the North runner attempting to score.

A five-run top of the fifth inning by North Mitchell allowed the ten-run rule to be enforced if Cranberry could not get the scoring margin under ten runs by inning's end. Cranberry put a runner on in the bottom of the fifth, but could not score as North sealed the win.

The Cranberry Lady Wildcats continue to improve as the season progresses. "It's amazing. We can see the improvement at every base with every player," Cranberry head coach Angel Dugger remarked after the game. "Holly pitched well and didn't walk many players today, either. Kota Turbyfill made a lot of good stops and throws today, and our catcher Mariah Lusk did an awesome job."

Cranberry's next game will take place next Monday in a doubleheader against Avery to close the regular season.

Lady Vikings Soccer Falls in Conference Match at Hendersonville

The Avery Lady Vikings traveled to Hendersonville on Monday evening for a matchup with fellow 1A competitor Hendersonville in Western Highlands Conference soccer action. Avery played hard and with intensity, but Hendersonville's Dietz Field continued to be a personal house of horrors to the Big Red, as the Lady Bearcats escaped with yet another home victory over the Lady Vikings, emerging with a 3-1 victory.

Avery played with less cohesion than in recent games as they took on one of the top teams in the WHC. From the outset, the Lady Bearcats played with the defensive mindset of containing and keeping the ball from Lady Vikings sophomore Mary Chesnut Smith. For the majority of the evening Smith faced two players or more defending her, preventing her from being able to catalyze the Lady Vikings offensive attack from the middle of the field.

The Bearcats got on the board first with a goal in the 9th minute to take an early 1-0 advantage. The Lady Vikings scored an equalizer in the 28th minute as Hayley Pyatte scored a goal which was assisted by Emily Banner.

Just three minutes following the Avery tally, a goal by Hendersonville's Torrey Jones gave Hendersonville the lead of 2-1 which held up for the remainder of the first half.

The Lady Vikings played with poise and control in the second half, with the exception of a brief lapse in the opening minutes of the second half. Hendersonville scored an insurance goal to build a two-goal lead at 3-1. Avery's defense held Hendersonville scoreless for the rest of the contest, but Avery could not musted the offensive attack to cut into the margin as the Lady Bearcats won by the same 3-1 score.

Avery returns to the pitch later this week when it travels to Columbus to meet another top-10 1A school in Polk County.