Lady Warriors stifle Raiders

from staff reports

   Happy Valley jumped on Sullivan North by scoring the game's first eight runs, then coasted to a 9-2 victory over the Lady Golden Raiders in a Watauga Conference softball affair on Thursday.
   With Kortney Goulds pitching the first four innings for the Lady Warriors, and picking up the win, North was unable to get on the board until the fifth frame.
   Happy Valley gave off offensive spark right from the start, pushing across three runs in the first. Jennifer Osborne and Kate Powell paced the Lady Warrior attack in the game, each going 3-for-4, followed by Goulds at 2-for-4.
   The Lady Raiders were hindered by the half dozen errors they committed. On the other end of the spectrum, Happy Valley turned a pair of doubles plays, thanks in part to center fielder Terra Whaley and third-baseman Randi Williams.
   Furthermore, a nice relay from Whaley to second-baseman Alicia Dick to catcher Mandy Byrd held a North runner at third.
   "It was a pretty well defensive played game," HV coach Karri Killen said of her team's performance. "We had 12 hits, made the defensive plays and played well."
   Marching forward in league play, the Lady Warriors visit Sullivan Central for a 4:30 p.m. game today, then host Unicoi County on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.