UNIONVILLE, Tenn. – In an emotional District 9-AA matchup on Tuesday, Gracie Daniel launched a two-out, go-ahead sixth-inning 3-run home run over the centerfield wall to put the Community Viqueens (16-6, 5-0) ahead for good in a 6-3 comeback win over Summertown (15-7, 4-2).

“Gracie Daniel is by far one of the best all-around softball players that I’ve ever coached, and I’ve been coaching for a very long time and coached some great players,” Community Head Coach Cam Farrell said postgame about his shortstop, “No matter how hard I am on her, that kid is looking for ways to figure it out, and you can’t ask for more than that.”

Daniel, who finished 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs and a walk while batting fifth in the lineup, also drove in the first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning on a one-out single to drive home Anna Haskins.

The Viqueens doubled their advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-out RBI-double from Kamryn Farrell to take a 2-0 lead into the fifth.

However, the Lady Eagles put together a couple good swings against Community’s ace, Annie Prince, in the top of the sixth. Summertown’s leadoff hitter, Mae Ricks, singled before being driven home on a controversial double from Elizabeth Garland that hit off the top of the wall in left field before landing back in the field of play. The Summertown fans and coaches were perplexed as to how Garland’s rocket wasn’t ruled a home run with the ball seeming to have deflected off the left-field porch to come back in play. 

Nonetheless, the very next batter, Greenley Taylor, connected on a go-ahead 2-run home run to left-center field, this time leaving no doubt to put the visitors ahead, 3-2. This resulted in some choice words from Lady Eagles’ Head Coach Wes Wood directed at a handful of Community fans along the third-base fence, prompting a warning from the on-site SRO officers.

“Summertown can hit it,” Farrel said, “Good luck if you’ve got a pitcher who can shut them out from top to bottom. I told Annie coming into this game that maybe she’ll come out here and blank ‘em, but that’s not likely, so if we give up some, let’s just get it back. Last year she got so caught up with striking everybody out that it was a panic if somebody hit her. I think she has shown a ton of growth in that.”

Going into the bottom of the sixth, the Viqueens needed another set of late-game heroics for the second-consecutive game. First, Kamryn Farrell delivered a seeing-eye RBI-single to score Taylor Harris from second and tie the game up at 3-3. Anna Haskins then came through with a one-out single to move Farrell into scoring position, but Kailani Allen’s infield fly to second brought up Daniel in a massive spot with two outs, and the Viqueens’ shortstop delivered the goods with her first career home run to put Community ahead for good.

“The message in the dugout heading into the bottom of the sixth inning was ‘if you want it, hit it,’” Farrell said, “It’s not really anything else, either you’re going to or you’re not, there’s no in-between. As a coach, when you see them talking and buzzing around – especially certain ones that are quiet – that’s when you know. I was proud of how they attacked in that inning. This district in general is tough and solid. You can’t be out here thinking, oh we’re up five runs in the first, we got this. I feel like this is the toughest district in the state, and I’m proud of them.”

Despite giving up three runs the previous inning, Prince came out and shut the door in the top of the seventh to secure the regular season series sweep over the Lady Eagles. Prince finished with another quality start with 7.0 complete innings pitched, giving up just three earned runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out five batters on 99 pitches.

“I’m really pleased because we can’t just come out here and live on Annie [Prince] alone, we have got to have our bats going,” said Farrell, “That’s one thing we’ve focused on for the last month and a half. I’m pleased with what I saw, and I’m proud that the girls…I don’t have to motivate them. They want to win, and for a coach, that’s everything. I don’t have to come in there and have some big dugout conversation. And all that extra stuff, it mentally takes you out of a ballgame. We have a goal, we need to work towards hitting that goal, and they did that.”

At the plate, Community tallied 10 hits as a team, led by Anna Haskins leading off and going 3-for-3 with a walk and a double. Farrell also went 3-for-3 with a double, Allen was 1-for-4, Daniel was 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a walk, and Ryleigh Lassiter finished 1-for-2.

Meanwhile, in the circle, Summertown’s Mary Parson got the start, throwing 5.0 innings while giving up just two earned runs on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts on 95 pitches. Olivia Woods came in for the bottom of the sixth, giving up the four earned runs on three hits and one walk on 29 pitches. 

Community now has a strong grip on the top seed for the District 9-AA Tournament with three games remaining. The Viqueens travel to rival Chapel Hill on Thursday with first-pitch set for 5:30 p.m.