Pioneers bash Ashe
From staff reports

WEST JEFFERSON — Watauga shook off a 14-2 loss to Alexander Central Tuesday by blasting Ashe County 9-0 Wednesday.

The Pioneers broke open a 3-0 game by scoring five runs in the fifth inning. Evalyn Pierce drove in two runs with a single and both Beth Wilson and Nicole Reilly had RBI singles during the inning.

It allowed Watauga (5-7) to take an 8-0 lead that the Huskies could not overcome. Watauga pitcher Maddi Bakken made sure of it by tying a school record of 16 strikeouts in one game.

Bakken tied the mark set by Shellie McGinnis. Reilly is second on the list with 15 strikeouts in a game against Alleghany.

“I am glad we had this game the day after playing the Alexander game,” Pioneers coach Brian Vannoy.

“It was good to go right back into a game without dwelling on Tuesday's performance. Today was the complete opposite of Tuesday. We hit well, ran the bases, and played flawless defense. I was very proud of the girls to see them respond in a positive way today.”

Watauga got off to a good start in the second inning when Kayla Kincaid doubled and eventually scored on a throwing error.

The Pioneers added two runs in the third inning when Chandler Butler scored on an error and Wilson drove in Hannah Yates, who singled to reach base, with a base hit.

Kincaid drove in Wilson in the seventh to close out the Watauga scoring.

Watauga plays in the Freedom Invitational against Virginia High at 11 a.m. Watauga’s jayvee team (4-5), which beat Ashe County 14-2 Wednesday, hosts Hibriten Friday at 6 p.m.