MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Gracie Daniel launched a three-run home run in the top of the fifth, Annie Prince was suburb once again with a complete-game shutout, and the Community Viqueens (32-8, 8-0) outlasted the Unicoi County Blue Devils (35-4, 10-0), 3-0, on Wednesday morning.

“This was a huge win,” Viqueens’ Head Coach Cam Farrell said postgame, “For one, we don’t know what the weather is supposed to look like tomorrow, and two, we need to give Annie [Prince] as much rest as we can give her.”

Early on, this battle in the winner’s bracket was a fast-moving pitcher’s duel. Prince outdueled her counterpart in the circle, Lela Byrd, with 7.0 shutout innings pitched. Prince struck out 10 batters, gave up just two hits, and walked three batters unintentionally. The Viqueens intentionally walked Byrd all four times she stepped into the batter’s box.

“I think she was just relaxed and she was spinning it,” Farrell said about his ace, “Annie wasn’t even really working with a whole bunch of speed, she was just throwing the ball and hitting spots. When she does that, even if someone hits it, they’re going to have a hard time hitting it well.”

Meanwhile, Byrd, who is committed to East Tennessee State University, struck out 13 batters for the Blue Devils across 7.0 innings, but the Viqueens tagged her for seven hits and three unearned runs. 

The only runs of the game came in the fifth inning. Alana Tate led off and reached safely after a dropped pop fly by the right fielder, taking second base in the process. Anna Haskins delivered a one-out infield single and stole second. After Kamryn Farrell struck out looking, Gracie Daniel stepped to the plate. Daniel had previously barreled up Byrd in the top of the first inning on a ground-rule double, and in the biggest at-bat of the game to that point, the Viqueens’ shortstop once again got ahold of another Byrd pitch, this time sending it deep into left-center field for a no-doubt three-run home run.

“Gracie Daniel is a dog,” Farrell said postgame, “That kid is everything you would want in a softball player, and these college coaches better get with it because she’s a program changer. Even if she fails, she’s going to find a way to have some success, and then her defense speaks for itself. She has so much range it’s ridiculous. When she gets going, it’s like we all get going. It’s contagious. I’m super proud of her, but I’m not shocked.”

The three runs were more than enough insurance for Prince, despite the Blue Devils nearly putting together one final rally in the bottom of the sixth. Abigail Peterson popped a one-out pitch to right-center field, but an onrushing Alana Tate saw the ball clip off the edge of her glove and drop safely and allow Peterson to take second base. However, Prince settled down to induce a pair of pop-ups to strand the runner in scoring position before mowing down Unicoi 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh.

At the plate for the Viqueens, Anna Haskins led off going 1-for-4, Farrell went 1-for-3, and Daniel finished 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs. Mattie Maxey was 1-for-3 with a double, Haylee Webb went 1-for-3 with a double, and Prince finished 1-for-3.

Community is currently scheduled to play the winner of Unicoi/Adamsville on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.