TRIBUNE/Eric Lusk • Elkin catcher Felicia Harrison tags out Forbush runner Amanda Reavis in Tuesday’s MVAC showdown. The Buckin’ Elks hung around for awhile against the perennial 2A powers before losing in five innings. Elkin nearly beat Ashe County 8-7 last Friday. Forbush has won or shared the past 16 conference championships.
Sports Editor
elusk@elkintribune.com
Forbush and Starmount waged a mostly defensive struggle Friday night in the first softball showdown of the season between the two Yadkin heavyweights.
But the Falcons and Rams both flexed major offensive muscle Tuesday night, with each scoring 17 runs against Mountain Valley 1A/2A opponents.
Forbush beat Elkin 17-0, while Starmount topped visiting Alleghany 17-2.
The Falcons overcame a stiff headwind in their victory under the shadows of the old Hugh Chatham Bridge that connects Elkin with Yadkin County. Forbush, which scored four runs in its first at-bats, broke the game open with a six-run third frame. That put coach Rachel McCullom’s team ahead 11-0.
The contest ended after five innings due to the mercy rule.
Shey Steelman earned the pitching victory, with reliever Lindsey Mathis keeping the shutout alive with two solid innings of work.
Steelman struck out five of the first six batters she faced and had eight K’s in all through three innings.
Elkin, coming off a nailbiting 8-7 loss to Ashe County last Friday, played well early on. But walks and defensive mistakes mounted as the game wore on, helping the Falcons build a large victory margin.
Rebecca Baker and Pressley Slawter both hit doubles for Elkin. Baker also reached base after getting hit by a pitch. Haley Shore got aboard in the bottom of the second with a windblown pop-up that the Falcons couldn’t field in time to throw her out.
Starmount, which lost to Forbush 3-2 in Friday’s meeting, got things cranked up quickly against Alleghany on Tuesday. The Rams scored 10 runs in the first inning, then plated four more in the third and three in the fourth.
The contest was called after four innings when the lead grew to 15 runs. Both of Alleghany’s scores came in the third inning.
Courtney Barnes homered for Starmount. Chelsea Varner went 2-for-2 with a double. The senior scored twice and tallied three RBIs. Freshman leadoff Josie Matthews earned four hits and scored all four times she got on base.
Jessica White was 3-for-4 with two runs and three more RBIs. Brittany White, Carla Cave and Rebecca Aplin all had doubles.
Courtney Groce earned the pitching win, her sixth of the season against one defeat. She did not allow a run. Rebecca Aplin finished things off.
“We came out in the first inning and put 10 on the board,” Rams coach Heather Courts said. “It was a very solid offensive effort tonight. Good pitching and defense tonight as well.”
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