MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – It took until the seventh inning, but the Community Viqueens (32-3-2, 8-0) found a way to stay alive in the TSSAA Class AA State Tournament on Thursday morning against the Westview Chargers (15-7, 6-2), 3-2, at Starplex Field #3.

“We were patient and eventually got our bats going,” said Viqueens’ head coach Cam Farrell. “You get your bats going, and that changes a whole lot. Their pitcher [McCall Sims] is committed to UT [in the OF] and she’s a dawg. I think we just kind of figured it out and got it going, but I think they were also determined after yesterday left a bad taste in our mouths. We were determined to come out here and play some better ball.”

After falling to Liberty Creek on Wednesday night, the Viqueens were forced into a quick turnaround with first-pitch for Thursday morning’s first set of elimination games set for 9:00, but Farrell’s ace, Annie Prince, dominated the Chargers’ lineup to keep Community alive. 

Prince fanned 16 batters, bringing her total in the state tournament to 43 strikeouts in three games. She gave up two earned runs on 106 pitches and three hits with just one walk in 7.0 innings.

“I’m proud of her [Annie Prince]; when we got on the bus this morning, I asked her if she was ready to go – I could tell she was tired and a little sore – and she said she was locked in and ready to go. She’s just got that dawg in her.”

Annie Prince (14) struck out 16 batters in 7.0 innings of work in Thursday's win against Westview.

Noah Maddox

For Westview, Sims started in the circle, giving up three earned runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out eight on 96 pitches in 7.0 innings.

It was a pitcher’s duel for the first six innings with neither team able to truly threaten the other offensively. However, in the top of the seventh, Gracie Daniel and Mattie Maxey – batting fifth after a lineup change that moved Carlie Blanton up to second – hit back-to-back singles to jump-start the Viqueens’ eventual game-winning rally. Haylee Webb bunted the runners over, and then Kamryn Farrell drove home Daniel on a sac-fly to left for the first run of the game. 

Alana Tate followed that up with an RBI double to left to score Maxey, then reached third on an errant throw by the catcher. Pinch-hitter Aliana Leverette’s infield-single brought Tate home to give Community a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

Kamryn Farrell (50) at second base against Westview. Farrell drove home the Viqueens' first run of the game on a sac-fly to left in the seventh.

Noah Maddox

Down to their final three outs, the Chargers put a scare into the Viqueens’ supporters after Sarah Byars led off with a bloop-single down the right-field line and was brought home thanks to Maddie Gray’s two-run home run to left, trimming the lead to one, 3-2.

However, Prince quickly slammed the door shut, striking out the next three batters to give the Viqueens another shot at Liberty Creek. 

Carlie Blanton went 1-2 with a walk, Gracie Daniel finished 2-3 with a double, and Mattie Maxey went 1-3. Kamryn Farrell went 1-2 with an RBI, Alana Tate went 1-2 with a double and an RBI, and Aliana Leverette went 1-1 with an RBI. 

The Viqueens attempt to stave off elimination once again against Liberty Creek in the second game of Thursday morning’s doubleheader.