Fourth-ranked Lady Hawks knock off Smoky Mountain

North Buncombe, the state's fourth-ranked 3-A softball team, defeated Smoky Mountain 9-3 in a Mountain Athletic Conference game last Thursday at Weaverville.

"I was pleased with our effort," Coach Pam Hyatt said. "We could have used some more hits, but defensively we played fairly well."

The Lady Hawks took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. They loaded the bases with no outs on singles by Melody Edmonds and Hannah Webb and a walk to Ali Manns. The runs scored on an error, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Stephanie Bush.

That's how things stayed until the fifth when North struck for three more runs to lead 6-0. Manns doubled, and Ashley Boone had an RBI single. The other two runs crossed the plate on wild pitches.

The Lady Mustangs (5-10, 2-10) cut the gap to 6-3 in the sixth. Singles by Ameka Buchanan, Tori Kelly and Jennifer Hyatt produced one run. The other two runs scored on an error.

North answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to account for the final. Webb had a two-run single, and Alicia Wilde delivered an RBI single.

Webb had three hits in four at-bats.

Kelly went two of two for SM.

Three of the nine starters for the Lady Mustangs were recently called up from the JVs. Hyatt noted Krista Edwards stopped every ball hit to her in right field, Buchanan had a hit and Ale Ensley played flawless defense at second base.

The JV game was rained out. No make-up date has been set.

Back to Sports: 05/08/03.