By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Hayesville’s softball players wear the word “grit” on the back of T-shirts away from the diamond. Monday, they wore grit on their sleeves during a gutsy performance against visiting Cherokee.
Yes, the Lady Yellow Jackets made too many errors, 7, a malady that’s plagued the inexperienced team all season long. No, they didn’t hit the ball exceptionally well — only four Hayesville girls had hits.
What the Lady Jackets did was compete — regular starters, as well as those who usually play sparingly.
Hayesville (1-9 overall, 1-6 Smoky Mountain Conference) had fewer bodies than they did in a 19-2 loss to Cherokee (5-3 overall, 4-3 SMC) two weeks ago, but the Lady Jackets had twice as many hits, 6, in the rematch.
“Today's game was better than last. We made some good defensive plays coming off spring break with only nine available to play,” Hayesville Coach Marissa Peck said. “I am proud of several stepping up to play roles in positions they are not accustomed to playing.”
Freshman sensation Micallyn McClure was the grittiest Lady Jacket. She smacked three hits in four at bats, raised her batting average to .571 and extended her hitting streak to six games. She also scored Hayesville’s only run, swiped two bases, and had three assists in three chances.
Micallyn led off the third inning with a single and came home on Lillie McClure’s fielder’s choice.
Micallyn did a credible job on the mound as well, going the distance and allowing just two earned runs.
Lady Jackets Danielle Anderson, Lillie McClure, Breanna Patterson and Mallory Peck also had hits.
Hayesville had fielding issues related to people playing out of position, but the Lady Jackets also had a number of defensive gems.
The top of the fourth inning was especially impressive. Raylyn Taylor squeezed a pop-up for the first out and left fielder Danielle Anderson ran down a sinking fly ball for out number two, but the brightest gem was the rally-killing final out.
Lillie instigated the big play by grabbing a liner on the hop and rifling the ball to Taylor, who spun and fired a strike to catcher Kara Bauer, who applied the tag on Amila Lossie.
“It was a great relay,” Peck said.
Taylor also made a sweet play in the seventh, grabbing a ball that glanced off a teammates glove and shooting the ball to Mallory at first base for the final out.
Bauer was also solid with the glove, digging several pitches out of the dirt.
In the fifth inning, Patterson started a double play.
Hayesville went looking for its second win of the season at Robbinsville on Tuesday , before hosting Franklin on Thursday and welcoming Robbinsville in a rematch on Friday.
Cherokee 1 3 1 3 1 1 2 = 12
Hayesville 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 = 1
Runs: M. McClure
Hits: M. McClure 3, Anderson, Patterson, Peck
RBI: L. McClure
Stolen Bases: M. McClure 2, Patterson, Peck