By Joshua Price/Sports Editor
Glencoe defeated Ashville in the opening round of the Class 3A, Area 10 tournament at Susan Moore on May 1, 8-2.
The fourth-ranked Yellow Jackets jumped to a quick lead, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Sarah Wallace and Morgan Lyles led the inning with consecutive singles. Jordan Sims blasted a shot off the left-centerfield fence for a double, scoring both Wallace and Lyles to give Glencoe a 2-0 lead.
Jamie McGuire continued the attack with a double to centerfield, scoring Sims and extending the Jacket lead to 3-0. Sally Tinker followed McGuire with a walk.
Lorren Massaro singled with two-outs to score McGuire and Glencoe led, 4-0. Chandler Harden reached on an Ashville error, scoring Tinker and Massaro. The Lady Yellow Jackets led 6-0 at the end of the first inning.
Ashville answered with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning.
Rachel England led the inning off with a towering home run to left field off of Sims, giving the Lady Bulldogs their first run of the game.
Stephanie Whisenant followed England with a single. Hannah Carter ripped a triple to left field to score Whisenant and narrow the Yellow Jackets’ lead to 6-2.
Glencoe made up for the two runs in the bottom half of the second inning.
Lyles and Sims each walked to start the inning. Tinker singled with one out to score Lyles, giving the Jackets a 7-2 lead. Alana Hampton earned an RBI with a single to right field, scoring Sims and finalizing the scoring.
Sims allowed Ashville four hits the remaining five innings for the win.
Sims recorded five strikeouts for the game.
Wallace batted 2-for-4 with a run and two stolen bases. Tinker went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and a run scored. McGuire finished 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and one run. Sims scored two runs and had two RBIs.
Fourth-ranked Glencoe will face eighth-ranked Susan Moore at 1:30 tomorrow (May 3) in a match up of Class 3A powers.