Panthers hammer WHS softball 10-1
by Mark Mitchell
By Mark Mitchell
mmitchell@mountaintimes.com
After three innings of Watauga's softball contest with Hibiten on Tuesday in Lenoir, the teams were locked in a tight pitcher's duel that seemed to indicate a climatic finish. Through four innings of play, however, all suspense was gone as Hibriten erupted for seven runs in the fourth and an 8-0 advantage. The Panthers then tacked on another pair of runs and cruised to a 10-1 victory over the Pioneers.
"They (Hibriten) are a pretty strong team and played well," Watauga head coach Brian Vannoy said. "That's the way our conference is going to be this year. We have some even, strong teams, so it is going to come down to who brings their best on that day."
Watauga's Shelby Drummond and Hibriten's Kristen Oakes took the mound for their respective teams, and while both teams put runners into scoring position early on, neither team could scratch across a run until Hibriten's Krista Sumpter scored in the bottom of the third inning to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Watauga put a pair of runners on in the top of the fourth, but was unlucky as Evalyn Pierce's hard liner turned into an inning-ending double play for the Panthers. A close game turned into a blowout in the bottom half of the frame as Hibriten turned four hits, two walks and three Watauga errors into seven runs and an 8-0 lead.
"We were close until the fourth and we just played some poor defense," Vannoy said. "I told our team that we have to play seven innings of good defense. We are not doing that consistently."
Kara Tester smacked a two-out single in the fifth inning and came around to score on a Hannah Yates' single to make the game 8-1. Hibriten, however, would make the game 10-1 when Oakes smashed a Tori Wright pitch over the left field wall for a two-run homer and a nine-run advantage. WHS (1-3) went in order in both the sixth and seventh innings in absorbing the loss.
"We struggled offensively in adjusting to their (Oakes) pitcher," Vannoy said. "She throws a lot of off-speed stuff, and we didn't adjust. We just have to hit the ball better. I told the girls that you will not win many games when you score just one run. We got some runners on early, but we couldn't knock them in."
Watauga returns to action on Thursday night when the Pioneers host West Forsyth.
Junior Varsity
The Watauga JV squad downed Hibriten 3-0 on Tuesday night in a game shortened to three innings due to darkness. Nicole Dollar fired three innings of no-hit ball, striking out three and walking five in the win. Kimmy Robinson went 1-3 with a triple and a run scored, while Savannah Greene went 1-2 with a RBI and a run scored to lead the Pioneers.
Boys' lacrosse
HICKORY - Watauga fell to Hickory Club 14-5 on the road Wednesday night.
The Pioneers got two goals from Will Bridges, two from Bobby Romminger and another from Greg Hardee.
The Pioneers are scheduled to host Asheville Club on Friday.
Boys' golf
LENOIR - Watauga finished sixth overall in a Northwestern Conference tournament held at Catawba Country Club on Monday.
The Pioneers finished with an overall score of 340 strokes. Hickory won with a low score of 316.
Ben Beason fired an 18-hole round of 78 for the Pioneers. Spencer Hodges had an 80 and both Dylan Cook and Cameron Taylor each had a 91. Robert Warren shot a 99 and Solomon Stone a 103.
mmitchell@mountaintimes.com
After three innings of Watauga's softball contest with Hibiten on Tuesday in Lenoir, the teams were locked in a tight pitcher's duel that seemed to indicate a climatic finish. Through four innings of play, however, all suspense was gone as Hibriten erupted for seven runs in the fourth and an 8-0 advantage. The Panthers then tacked on another pair of runs and cruised to a 10-1 victory over the Pioneers.
"They (Hibriten) are a pretty strong team and played well," Watauga head coach Brian Vannoy said. "That's the way our conference is going to be this year. We have some even, strong teams, so it is going to come down to who brings their best on that day."
Watauga's Shelby Drummond and Hibriten's Kristen Oakes took the mound for their respective teams, and while both teams put runners into scoring position early on, neither team could scratch across a run until Hibriten's Krista Sumpter scored in the bottom of the third inning to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Watauga put a pair of runners on in the top of the fourth, but was unlucky as Evalyn Pierce's hard liner turned into an inning-ending double play for the Panthers. A close game turned into a blowout in the bottom half of the frame as Hibriten turned four hits, two walks and three Watauga errors into seven runs and an 8-0 lead.
"We were close until the fourth and we just played some poor defense," Vannoy said. "I told our team that we have to play seven innings of good defense. We are not doing that consistently."
Kara Tester smacked a two-out single in the fifth inning and came around to score on a Hannah Yates' single to make the game 8-1. Hibriten, however, would make the game 10-1 when Oakes smashed a Tori Wright pitch over the left field wall for a two-run homer and a nine-run advantage. WHS (1-3) went in order in both the sixth and seventh innings in absorbing the loss.
"We struggled offensively in adjusting to their (Oakes) pitcher," Vannoy said. "She throws a lot of off-speed stuff, and we didn't adjust. We just have to hit the ball better. I told the girls that you will not win many games when you score just one run. We got some runners on early, but we couldn't knock them in."
Watauga returns to action on Thursday night when the Pioneers host West Forsyth.
Junior Varsity
The Watauga JV squad downed Hibriten 3-0 on Tuesday night in a game shortened to three innings due to darkness. Nicole Dollar fired three innings of no-hit ball, striking out three and walking five in the win. Kimmy Robinson went 1-3 with a triple and a run scored, while Savannah Greene went 1-2 with a RBI and a run scored to lead the Pioneers.
Boys' lacrosse
HICKORY - Watauga fell to Hickory Club 14-5 on the road Wednesday night.
The Pioneers got two goals from Will Bridges, two from Bobby Romminger and another from Greg Hardee.
The Pioneers are scheduled to host Asheville Club on Friday.
Boys' golf
LENOIR - Watauga finished sixth overall in a Northwestern Conference tournament held at Catawba Country Club on Monday.
The Pioneers finished with an overall score of 340 strokes. Hickory won with a low score of 316.
Ben Beason fired an 18-hole round of 78 for the Pioneers. Spencer Hodges had an 80 and both Dylan Cook and Cameron Taylor each had a 91. Robert Warren shot a 99 and Solomon Stone a 103.