Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Hayesville's Raylyn Taylor, No. 11, hustles down the first base line safely on a Hiwassee Dam overthrow.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Big innings continue to doom Hayesville’s young softball team.
Last Wednesday, Hiwassee Dam used an 8-run inning to triumph 12-2.
Thursday, Hiwassee Dam scored big in the two final innings — 7 in the fifth and 6 in the sixth — on the way to a 20-6 decision.
Monday, Swain pushed across 8 runs in the third inning to put Hayesville away 11-1.
The young Lady Yellow Jackets fought tooth and nail in all three games as their record dropped to 1-7.
Here’s a summary:
Swain 11, Hayesville 1
The Lady Yellow Jackets actually led 1-0 entering the second inning thanks to Gracelynn Anderson doubling home Mallory Peck.
The Maroon Devils answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second and broke the game open in the next frame.
Swain outhit Hayesville, 10-2, and the Lady Yellow Jackets helped the hosts with four errors.
Anderson and Peck had the only hits, both doubles.
Hiwassee Dam 12, Hayesville 2
The Lady Jackets seemed destined to ace their second win for most of the game.
“We were tied going into the 5th inning, 2-2,” Hayesville Coach Marissa Peck said. “We struggled to get hits against their pitching. The highlight was Gracelynn Anderson’s home run.”
Anderson’s dinger was one of three Hayesville hits. Peck and Jasmine Brooks had the other two. Peck also drove in a run.
Three errors undid good pitching by Brooks, who only allowed 2 earned runs and didn’t issue a single walk in four 2/3 innings.
Hiwassee Dam 20, Hayesville 6
Hayesville’s bats were considerably warmer last Thursday against visiting Hiwassee Dam when the Lady Yellow Jackets rapped 10 hits.
The highlight of the game came in the fifth inning when Hayesville tallied 4 runs. Unfortunately, Hiwassee Dam led 14-1 by the time the Hayesville offense heated up.
Lillie McClure led the hit parade with three doubles and two RBI’s.
Gracelynn Anderson had two doubles and an RBI. Danielle Anderson cracked a double and a single.
Brooks had a double and drove in 2 runs.
Peck and Raylyn Taylor both singled. Peck also had an RBI.
“We’re continuing to work to decrease errors and make adjustments in the batters box,” Peck said.
The Lady Yellow Jackets have a lull in the schedule before traveling to Murphy on Tuesday, April 16, visiting Cherokee on Wednesday, April 17 and hosting Murphy on Friday, April 19.