SHAWN DIGIANFELICE 

Sports Writer

The Community Viqueens are headed back to the TSSAA State Softball Tournament for the second consecutive season and the third time in the past four years after rolling past Stewart County 15-4 Friday night in Class AA sectional action.

Class AA Sectional

Community – 15, Stewart County – 4

Community used a balanced offensive attack and another strong performance in the circle from Annie Prince. The Viqueens erupted offensively after a scoreless first inning and never looked back.

Community broke the game open with five runs in the second inning before adding four more in the fourth and six in the fifth to end the game with a run rule victory.

The Viqueens pounded out 15 hits in one of its most complete offensive performances of the postseason.

Anna Haskins set the tone at the top of the lineup, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Kamryn Farrell continued her strong postseason stretch with two hits and three RBIs. Gracie Daniel added two hits and drove in three runs, and Mattie Maxey delivered one of the biggest swings of the night with a run-rule walk-off home run and four RBIs. Kailani Allen also had a big night offensively, finishing with two hits and two RBIs, while Alana Tate collected two hits and scored three runs. Haylee Webb added a double and scored once, and Hayden Moore chipped in with a hit and two runs scored.

Prince earned the win in the circle, striking out seven over five innings while allowing five hits and four runs. The senior worked around a pair of Stewart County home runs and consistently pitched out of trouble to keep Community firmly in control.

Region 5-AA Championship

Community – 5, Summertown – 2

Community earned the right to host the sectional round Wednesday night, rallying past district rival Summertown 5-2 to capture the Region 5-AA Championship.

After falling behind 2-0 through the opening two innings, the Viqueens settled in and gradually took control before exploding for four runs in the fifth inning.

Community finished with 14 hits in the game. Farrell sparked the attack with a perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate, while Webb went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Daniel added two hits and scored a run, and Moore delivered two hits and an RBI. Haskins and Tate each doubled, while Ryleigh Lassiter added a double and drove in a run. Maxey also contributed a hit as the Viqueens consistently pressured Summertown throughout the night.

Community got on the board in the fourth inning when Tate delivered an RBI hit to trim the deficit to 2-1 before the Viqueens erupted in the fifth. Webb highlighted the inning with a two-run hit, Moore added an RBI knock, and Lassiter also drove in a run to help Community take a 5-2 lead.

Lassiter started in the circle before Prince entered in relief and shut the door. Prince tossed four scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out six to earn the victory.

Region 5-AA Semifinal

Community – 3, Lewis County – 0

The Viqueens opened the week Monday night with a dominant 3-0 shutout victory over Lewis County to advance to the Region 5-AA championship game.

Runs were difficult to come by early as both teams traded scoreless innings through the first four frames before Community finally broke through in the fifth inning with timely hitting and pressure on the bases.

The Viqueens added an insurance run in the sixth to put the game away.

Prince delivered another dominant performance in the circle, tossing a complete-game two-hit shutout while striking out 16 batters over seven innings.

Community finished with nine hits offensively, led by Daniel and Tate with two hits each. Tate also drove in a run and scored once, while Farrell added an RBI. Haskins, Maxey, Allen, Prince and Haleigh Moore each contributed hits in the victory as Community continued its postseason surge toward another trip to Spring Fling.

Community (31-9), will open state tournament play on Tuesday at 1:00 P.M. at the McKnight and Starplex Sports Complex with their opponent yet to be confirmed.