JEFFERSON - The first time Watauga’s 11-12 year old Little League softball All-Star team played Ashe County, Watauga made several mistakes that helped Ashe County win the game.

Monday night, Ashe County returned the favor. Watauga rallied for five runs in the second inning with no hits, and held on to take a 7-4 victory at Ashe County Park. Watauga faces Wilkes County for the District 7 championship Tuesday, also at Ashe County Park. Should Watauga win, a second game against Wilkes would be played in the double elimination tournament.

Watauga benefited from a combination of walks, Ashe County errors and passed balls to score five runs in the second inning and take a 5-0 lead. Ashe County answered with single runs in the second, third and fourth innings, but Watauga added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning on a fielder’s choice and an unearned run.

Megan Jackson opened the inning by walking and Renee Taylor hit a double, leaving Jackson at third base.

Jackson beat a throw home on a ball hit by Rachel Fox and Taylor scored when a ball hit by Jessica Davis was misplayed.

Ashe County scored another run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Jackson, who pitched the final two innings of the game, managed to close the game out.

Hope LaPoint pitched the first two innings for Watauga. Paige Miller handled the next two on the mound.

“Because of the rules, we had to go with the whole staff,” Watauga coach Jay Jackson said.

Watauga's pitching staff got a big assist from its defense when shortstop Amie Sigmann, who was backing up a pick-off play from home, picked up the ball and fired to Taylor at home to throw out MacKenzie Wallace.

“Hope LaPoint made some big catches in center field and Amie Sigmann's back-up and throw to home plate was stellar,” Jackson said.