UNIONVILLE –  Nine different Community Viqueens accounted for 15 hits as the Viqueens hit early and often en route to a 17-0 victory over the Central Magnet Lady Tigers in the final Community regular season softball game of the 2023 season.
Community (15-9-1) wasted little time getting on the board with three first inning runs.  Anna Haskins and Abi Murrill set the table by reaching base on a single and error to put runners in scoring position. 
An Abi Brown bunt single scored two runs while a double by Alana Tate and a single by Haley Mitchell helped to push across another run as the Viqueens took their 3-0 lead.
The Viqueens put the game out of reach with eight runs in the second. 
Singles by Haskins, Tate, and Carlie Blanton and a double by Murrill were sandwiched between a single to start the inning by Taylar Wessner and a home run by Wessner at the end as Community sent 11 batters to the plate and increased its lead to 11-0.
Singles by Zoey Dixon, Annie Prince, and Blanton brought home two runs in the third as the Viqueens went up 13-0.
The game ended in grand style in the bottom of the fourth as Tate cleared the bases with a grand slam homer.
Prince was the starting pitcher for the Viqueens with Mitchell in relief.  It was Mitchell's first appearance on the mound this season after being sidelined with an injury.  
Coach Cam Farrell was pleased with the performance and work ethic of his team as the Viqueens get ready for the district tournament.
"I am super proud of them," Farrell said. "We went down to Richland and got beat 3-0 and I don't think our heads were there."
"I told them I need to change me as a coach and be a little more positive," Farrell added.
"I think when I do that, they tend to love the game a little more and play a little harder."
The Viqueens went the extra mile on the day preceding the game against Central Magnet.
"We practiced yesterday at 6 a.m. and had another practice at 3:30.  They wanted to do that and they were all about it," Farrell said.
"They hit, hit, hit and then they came out here and put on a pretty big hitting clinic," Farrell added.
Farrell thinks the tougher regular season slate the Viqueens played will pay dividends down the road.
"I think our schedule and what we've been doing assures that we can compete against anybody," Farrell said.
With the higher seed hosting each game in the District 7-AA tournament, Community, with the number one seed in the tournament, will play all of its games at home. 
The Viqueens will begin play with a 5:30 p.m. contest on Monday against Grundy County.    
                                  
Central Magnet 000 0 —   0   2  2      
Community        382 4 — 17 15 2
 
Community: Alana Tate 3-for-3, Taylar Wessner 2-for-2, Anna Haskins 2-for-3, Abi Brown 2-for-3, Carlie Blanton 2-for-3, Annie Prince 1-for-1, Haley Mitchell 1-for-2, Zoey Dixon 1-for-2, Abby Murrill 1-for-3.
 
WP: Prince