Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets Fall to Hiwassee Dam Lady Eagles in Home Conference Clash

(Photo by Carissa Daniels) Freshman Micalynn McClure gets the start from the circle for Hayesville.

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Staff Report

On Tuesday, March 18, the Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets varsity softball team hosted the Hiwassee Dam Lady Eagles in a conference matchup in Hayesville, North Carolina. Despite playing on their home turf, the Lady Yellow Jackets struggled to find their rhythm, ultimately falling to the Lady Eagles by a decisive score of 16-3. The two teams are set to face off again later this week, with Hayesville traveling to Hiwassee Dam on Friday, March 21, for a chance at redemption.

A Tough Day at the Plate for Hayesville

The Lady Yellow Jackets had a challenging outing offensively, managing just two hits across five innings against a strong Hiwassee Dam pitching effort. Junior Lily Chastain led the way for Hayesville, batting .500 with a 1-for-2 performance at the plate, scoring twice and driving in a run. Senior Mallory Peck also contributed, going 1-for-3 with an RBI, finishing with a .333 batting average for the game. However, the rest of the lineup struggled to make contact, with the team collectively hitting a mere .105 and striking out 14 times. Freshman Kara Bauer added a stolen base and scored once, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback.

Hiwassee Dam’s pitchers—juniors Olivia Williams and Abby Harris, along with senior Olivia McNabb—combined to stifle Hayesville’s bats, allowing just one hit while racking up 14 strikeouts. Williams set the tone early, tossing a scoreless first inning, while Harris and McNabb kept the pressure on, surrendering only two earned runs over the final four frames.

Defensive Struggles Compound the Deficit

On the mound, Hayesville relied on freshman Micalynn. McClure, who pitched all five innings but faced a relentless Hiwassee Dam offense. McClure allowed 10 hits and 16 runs—though only four were earned—while issuing four walks and recording two strikeouts. The Lady Yellow Jackets’ defense didn’t help her cause, committing seven errors that led to a dozen unearned runs for the Lady Eagles. Despite some bright spots, such as senior Mallory Peck’s perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with nine putouts and freshman Kara Bauer’s steady play in the field, Hayesville’s .774 team fielding percentage reflected a tough day overall.

Hiwassee Dam capitalized on Hayesville’s miscues, exploding for seven runs in the third inning and six more in the fifth to seal the victory. The Lady Eagles’ offense was led by sophomore Avery McNabb, who went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, and a run scored, and junior Brinkley Payne, who drove in three runs while crossing the plate three times herself.

Looking Ahead to Friday’s Rematch

The loss drops Hayesville’s record to 1-3 for the season as they prepare for the quick turnaround against Hiwassee Dam. Friday’s game in Hiwassee Dam offers the Lady Yellow Jackets an opportunity to even the score and address the issues that plagued them on Tuesday. Improving their plate discipline—reducing those 14 strikeouts—and tightening up defensively will be key if they hope to flip the script against a Hiwassee Dam squad that showcased its offensive firepower and baserunning aggression, stealing seven bases in the opener.

For Hayesville, players like Chastain and Peck will need to set the tone offensively, while McClure and the defense aim to limit the Lady Eagles’ big innings. With the rematch just days away, the Lady Yellow Jackets have little time to regroup but plenty of motivation to prove they can compete with Hiwassee Dam.