Avery Little League District World Series Teams Open Tournament Play

It was a tough pair of opening games for the 9 and 10 year olds as District 7 Little League Baseball and Softball tournament action got underway.

On a sweltering Saturday in Morganton, the Avery 9-10 softball squad battled both opponent Ashe County and oppressive heat, as temperatures skyrocketed to near the 100 degree mark. Due to the excessive heat, players were given every opportunity during the game to ask for a pause for water to keep hydrated on the hot diamond at Shuey Park.

The heat and a tough Ashe County squad got the best of Avery by game’s end, however, as Avery fell by a final score of 19-5 in four innings.

Ashe County got the offensive flurry going early on against Avery starting pitcher Leah Ricker. Ricker made good pitches, but Ashe found a way to put the aluminum to the ball to score eight runs in the opening frame. Zoe Daniels was called on in relief during the inning and was able to close out the inning.

Avery bounced back in the bottom of the stanza to cut the lead as Ricker drew a walk and scored one batter later when Zoe Daniels ripped an inside-the-park home run to the outfield fence in left field. By inning’s end Avery drew to within 8-2.

Daniels held Ashe scoreless in the top of the second, and in the bottom half Avery took advantage with another pair of runs. Multiple Avery players drew walks in the inning before Veronica Clark plated runs with a base hit. Avery drew three more walks following the hit to force in a run, but Avery was retired, leaving the bases loaded.

Ashe County extended its lead for good in the top of the third with another eight-run flurry. The Ashe club rapped out four hits in the frame to bring runs home and build a 16-4 lead.

Avery scored a single run in the bottom of the third as Cassie Harris walked and came around to score, but was unable to amass any further offense as Ashe plated three runs in the fourth inning and Avery was held scoreless in the bottom half to end the game due to the ten-run mercy rule.

Avery head coach Robert Garland was pleased with how his team battled both its opponent and the elements on a dangerously hot day for baseball.

“They kept beating us by innings. We played close until the end. These girls weren’t used to the heat and burned up, but they played their best and left everything on the field. The girls played really awesome, especially considering how hot they were,” Coach Garland said following the game. “I really thought that Little League should have done something in the mountains with two mountain teams playing, in my honest opinion.”

Despite the setback, the Avery coach was appreciative of the effort of the team and contends there is much fight left in the team for its next tournament game, a must-win contest held this Saturday.

“Some of them looked about ready to pass out, but these girls have a lot of fight in them and they’ll bounce back,” the coach said. The girls will return to action this Saturday with a game at a location TBD at 1 p.m. Updates on games and location can be found later this week on the Journal-Times Sports Blog at www.ajtsports.blogspot.com.

Meanwhile in 9 and 10 year old Little League Baseball tournament action, the Avery boys team squared off with a talented Wilkes County (National League) team on Monday evening at Sherrill Rominger Field inside the Hodge Turbyfill Baseball Complex in Newland. The Wilkes batters had on their hitting shoes from the first inning as the squad took an early lead and did not relinquish its strangle hold as Avery came up short in a 14-1 defeat in four innings.

Avery, the visiting team in the game, looked poised to draw first blood when leadoff hitter Jordan Lecka reached base and advanced to third base, but Wilkes pitcher Ethan Adams recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.

In the bottom of the frame Wilkes struck for four runs. A number of fielding errors hurt Avery as Wilkes picked up its runs off only one hit.

Avery again looked as if it was going to plate a couple of runs in the second inning when Josh Cook reached on a fielder’s choice and Lane Johnson drew a walk. Again, the Wilkes pitcher rose to the occasion as Adams recorded another strikeout to end the inning.

Batting through each player in the lineup for the second time in as many innings, the Wilkes lineup appeared to get the timing down of Avery starting pitcher Jordan Lecka. Wilkes picked up nine runs in the bottom of the second, forcing Avery to call on Josh McClellan in relief before inning’s conclusion. Wilkes had five base hits in the frame and was assisted with a couple of Avery gaffes which extended the Wilkes advantage to an insurmountable 13-0 lead.

Refusing to quit, Avery fought to prevent the shutout and was successful. McClellan singled in the top of the third inning, advanced to third after a stolen base and passed ball, then scored on a throwing error from the Wilkes catcher.

Unfortunately for the Avery club, it could no more to its run total. Wilkes added a run in the bottom of the third, then struck out the Avery side in order in the fourth inning to close out the win due to the ten-run mercy rule.

Avery’s next 9-10 baseball tournament contest will take place on Saturday afternoon, July 3^rd. Avery’s 11 and 12 year old teams start action this week. The 11-12 softball squad plays in Boone this Saturday at 1 p.m. against Watauga, while the 11-12 year old baseball team takes on Wilkes (American) on the road Saturday at 3:30 p.m.