A total of three Avery County Little League Baseball and Softball All-Star teams were in action across the High Country on Saturday afternoon.9 and 10 Softball:
The 9 and 10 year old Little League Softball tournament reconvened at Hodge Turbyfill Baseball Complex in Newland as Avery faced a tough Wilkes American squad. Avery was unable to find an answer for the well-rounded Wilkes team, falling in four innings by the final score of 17-0.
In the early going the contest remained close as Avery starter Bri Cuthbertson held the Wilkes club to only a pair of first inning tallies in the top of the first inning. Avery threatened to narrow the gap as the squad put two runners on base. A caught stealing at third base ended the rally and the frame with Wilkes up by a pair.
Wilkes was unable to explode offensively through the first three innings but still managed to manufacture runs to build its lead. Wilkes plated three runs in both the second and third innings, taking advantage of seven walks during the stretch to build its lead to 8-0.
Offense against the Wilkes pitching staff was hard to come by for Avery, as the team managed only a pair of hits for the game. Wilkes put the contest away with nine runs in the top of the fourth inning to provide for the final margin.
11 and 12 Softball:
Avery’s 11 and 12 year old softball All-Stars hoped to stave off elimination when they took the diamond at Watauga High School in Boone against a Watauga National squad. Watauga was too tough to tame in the contest, however, defeating Avery 15-0 in four innings.
Starting pitcher Ashlie Yoder ran into early difficulty against Watauga, surrendering a pair of runs. The right hander worked out of a bases-loaded jam, however, to surrender no further damage in the inning.
Avery’s bats found the going tough against Watauga pitching. Offense was at a premium for the squad, as Stacie Brewer provided a base hit in the second inning and Kylie Polsgrove reached base in both her turns at bat for the contest.
Watauga scored five runs in the second inning to increase its edge to seven runs, then put the contest out of reach with an eight-run third inning to provide for the final margin.Overall, the Avery coaching staff felt their team performed admirably in this year’s All-Star tournament. “To sum it up, we beat the teams we were supposed to beat and lost to the teams that we should have also,” Avery coach Craig Rieger said after the contest. “We didn’t play our best, and wished things could have been closer.”
“We didn’t make the outs on plays that we needed to, and we made some errors,” Coach Kevin Brown added.
11 and 12 Baseball:
Despite a long layoff of around ten days between games, the Avery 11 and 12 year old Baseball All-Stars took the field on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Optimist Park to play a Watauga National ballclub in District 7 tournament action. Avery managed to put runners in scoring position multiple times in the game, but Watauga’s hit parade was too strong as the Nationals took a 17-1 win in four innings.
Southpaw pitcher Gabe Stanley got the starting nod for Avery in the contest, but the Watauga bats began to hit early. A pair of solo home runs started the flurry for the Nationals club, and the team continued to put the ball in play, scoring six runs in the frame to take an early lead.
Avery best scoring chance came early in the game, as the team loaded the bases in the top of the first with no outs as Jerry Lunsford singled, Kyle Hoffman drew a walk and Wade Smith was hit by a pitch. Watauga pitching worked out of the trouble however, as a fielder’s choice and pair of strikeouts prevented Avery from plating a run in the inning.
Avery held Watauga to a lone run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the second, but Watauga increased its bulge to 7-0. Watauga put the contest out of reach in the top of the third inning. The team rallied with two outs in the inning to score three runs for a 10-0 lead.
Avery threatened for its own big inning in the bottom of the third, again loading the bases. A bases-loaded walk plated Avery’s first run, but Watauga again retired the Avery club before further damage could be inflicted.
The proverbial door was slammed by the Nationals in the top of the fourth with a seven-run frame. The big blow for Watauga was a two-run home run by Matt Lambert. Avery could not rally to keep the contest going in the bottom of the inning, enforcing the ten-run rule to end the contest.
“We got off to such a bad start. When you give up home runs early and walk a few runners, you find yourself in a mess. But after the first inning we played all right. We made an error or two, but it is what it is,” Avery coach Jerry Lunsford said after the game. “As far as doing what they needed to do in practice and in games, this has been the best team in the three years that I’ve coached All-Stars. We were a little inexperienced, but the players wanted to come to practice and work hard to get better together.”
Overall, the Little League season for Avery County has been a successful and fun time for all.
“We had a great year. The all-stars represented Avery County well,” League President Jerry Moody said. “The Board of Directors are very proud of all of the kids, parents, coaches and volunteers.”
Congratulations to all the Avery All-Stars for great effort throughout their respective district tournaments.
