The Toe River Conference tournaments for middle school baseball and softball, hosted by Cranberry, begin today in Newland. All four county middle school teams will be in action today beginning at
Avery vs. Bowman
Avery's softball girls broke a three-game win streak to end their season with a 13-5 loss to Bowman in six innings on Monday in Newland.
"We had a bad game," said coach Chris Lecka. "We weren't focused. It was one of those games."
Looking toward the conference tournament, Lecka said his girls need to pitch better and play better defense than was on display Monday--things they did better in their previous three games.
In this game, Smith walked the first six Bowman batters, and the Lady Panthers had five errors in three innings.
Still, the Lady Panthers finish the season with the best record of the four middle school teams (4-6), including a 13-3 win against Bowman in the season opener.
Smith pitched part of the first inning and also in the sixth inning. Morgan Lecka pitched the bulk of the game. Kylie Posgrove had two scores for Avery. Ginny Leaman, Kaitlyn Sudderth, and Jericha Reiger scored one apiece.
Meanwhile, Avery's baseball guys lost a close game to Bowman, a 6-3 decision that was called after six innings. Avery ends its season at 4-7 (3-7 in
Avery tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth, but Bowman scored three in the top of the sixth for the final score. Ty Polsgrove pitched the complete game for Avery.
"Ty pitched really well," said coach Donnie Johnson. "We always have good pitching."
Johnson said his team needs to hone its skills and be more consistent with the conference tournament beginning.
"Fundamentally, we were a little down today," he said. "We could have played a lot better. We had some errors here and there."
In batting, the team looked good sporadically, Johnson said. "We need to be more solid throughout the lineup," he said.
Polsgrove, Chance Watson, and Wade Smith scored the Panthers' runs.
Cranberry update
Cranberry was not in action this week, but will also enter the conference tournament fray on Wednesday. Many of the eighth graders on Cranberry's teams have been on a field trip in
Baseball coach Phillip Greene is optimistic that a break and change of focus for the eighth graders, coupled with some good practices with the seventh graders, could help going into the tournament.
He's glad that his team is opening against Harris.
"Harris is the team we've played the toughest this year," he said. "I'm looking forward to another game with them."
Though Cranberry finished 0-10, the first Harris game was the closest (a 7-2 loss) and the Wildcats had their highest run total in the other (a 24-10 loss).
In order to make the third time the charm, “we've got to execute, plain and simple," he said.
Softball coach Angel Dugger said her team did some batting work on Thursday, before the D.C. trip, as she says the girls need to be able to hit.
"That's what they've got to do. [And] they've got to be willing to run and steal bases."
Emily Brown has been the primary pitcher for the Lady Wildcats (0-10) this year, among a team that doesn't have much experience pitching.
"I expect her to start [Wednesday's game], and we'll go from there," said Dugger.
SOFTBALL (games played at softball field on Hodge Turbyfill Little League Complex in Newland): Opening Round (Wednesday, April 28th): Semifinal Round (Thursday, April 29th): Championship Final: Saturday, May 1st at *If top two seeds advance to finals, game will likely be moved to =====================================================================
(games played at baseball field at Rock Gym adjacent to Opening Round (Wednesday, April 28th): Semifinal Round (Thursday, April 29th): Championship Final: Saturday, May 1st at *If top two seeds advance to finals, game will likely be moved to |
ON THE LINKS
Avery and Cranberry had great showings in golf Thursday of last week. They joined the other Toe River Conference teams and a team from
The results:
1. Harris 137
2. Avery 135
3. Cranberry 155
4. McDowell 166
5. East Yancey 171
6.
7. Bowman 200
Teams were four students each. Team totals were the total of the lowest three scores for each team.
Daniel Childress, Caston Padgett, Austin Phillips, and Chance Watson made up Avery's team. Ryan Buchanan, Austin Daniels, Zach Guy, and Stetson Stafford took to the course for Cranberry.
Daniel Childress' personal total of 38 was the low for all tournament participants.
