Pioneers finish 2-2

in softball tournament
From staff reports

KINGSPORT, Tenn. — Watauga went 2-2 in the four games it played at the Eastman Invitational over the weekend.

The Pioneers (4-8) opened Friday with a dramatic 11-7 victory over J.I. Burton in six innings. With the time limit on the game already expired, Kayla Kincaid blasted a grand slam to give Watauga a 10-7 lead. Kincaid led the Pioneers by going 3-for-4 from the plate with four RBIs and three runs scored.

Kincaid ended the tournament hitting 7-of-15 with six RBIs, one triple and her grand slam. Chandler Butler went 10-of-14 with one RBI. She also scored seven runs.

Kara Tester was 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored for the Pioneers against Burton. Butler went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Tori Wright picked up the win on the mound by pitching the final two innings in relief. She struck out four, walked one and gave up one hit.

“We hit the ball very well against all the pitchers we faced,” Watauga coach Brian Vannoy said. “Hopefully this tournament will help us come together and help the girls realize the talent they have. This group of girls is very talented, we just lack confidence in ourselves. Once the girls realize what they are capable of doing, I think you'll see this team take off.”

The Pioneers could not make their fortune last in a 4-3 loss to Dobyns-Bennett in their second game. Wright took the loss on the mound, allowing six hits, four runs — but just two were earned — and struck out six.

Hannah Yates went 3-for-3 with an RBI for Watauga. Kelsey Rominger was 2-for-3 from the plate and Butler went 2-for-4 wit a run scored. Dobyns-Bennett (14-2) finished 4-0 in pool play.

Watauga ended up falling 10-9 to Cumberland County Saturday. Kincaid went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a triple, while Butler went 3-for-4 with three runs. Cumberland County scored just one earned run on five hits. Wright struck out seven and walked one in her six innings pitched.

Watauga closed out the tournament with a 5-2 victory over Bearden. Butler went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Wright scattered four hits, did not give up an earned run and struck out 11.

Wright finished the tournament giving up just three earned runs in 20 innings pitches. She struck out 28 batters, walked just four and hit four batters. She also scattered 16 hits.

“We have hit the ball extremely well since the McDowell game, and the pitching has been solid all year regardless of who's on the mound,” Vannoy said. “ We just have to get the defense and base running to come around to put it all together.”

Watauga hosts Freedom, weather permitting, Tuesday night.