Huskies Beat Vikings For First Conference Win

April 28, 2009

Ashe County Huskies


Jefferson Post
Written by: Michael Graybeal / Sports Editor
April 28, 2009


The Huskies baseball team, sitting on a record of 0-10 in the Mountain Valley Conference, erased the goose egg in their MVAC win column Friday evening when they defeated the visiting North Wilkes Vikings 9-6 to claim their first victory of their conference schedule.

"This win feels really good," commented Coach Ronnie Pruitt following the game on Friday. "They have never gave up and I told them to use this as a momentum builder heading into our game at Alleghany on Wednesday and then Forbush on Thursday."

Despite two early runs scored by the Vikings on Friday, Ashe's bats were alive early in the game, and they jumped to a 3-2 lead at the end of the first inning. The Huskies continued to score runs after the three-run first with two more runs in the second inning, building a 5-2 lead heading into the third inning.

The Vikings managed to add one run to their team total in the fourth inning, cutting their deficit to two runs, 5-3. Ashe's defense, led by a five-inning pitching performance by Daniel Waln, gave up another run in the fifth inning, but the offense scored two more runs for the Huskies, bringing the game to a 7-4 lead.

Waln opened the game for the Huskies in his first career start as a pitcher. Waln went five innings, giving up eight hits, four runs, walking one batter, and striking out two. Evan Gray came in for relief for the Huskies, and pitched two complete innings.

Gray pitched two innings, gave up three hits, two runs, walked one batter, and struck out four. Gray's two innings sealed the victory for Ashe, but the Huskies offense scored another two runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning, bringing the score to 9-6 heading into the seventh and final inning.

Offensively, Kyle Guyton led the attack for Ashe going 3-3 with two runs, and two RBIs. Andrew Sexton recorded four RBIs with a homerun, and Aaron Scott recorded two RBIs with a 2-4 performance.

Ashe has one MVAC game remaining on their schedule, and that is Forbush, which could set up to be a huge night for Ashe.

Thursday evening will be the Huskies' senior festivities, when the senior members of the Huskies' roster will be recognized. Once the action starts, the game is anticipated to be a close contest with the Falcons, as the first meeting of the two MVAC foes yielded a 10-8 final score.

Following next week, the Huskies will participate in the MVAC Tournament, with the first round being hosted by the higher seeded team. The semi-finals and finals will be hosted at North Surry High School this year. The Huskies are dependant on a rally through the final two games of the season, and a rally through the tournament to receive a bid into the NCHSAA State Playoffs. Their journey continues tomorrow when they travel to Alleghany High School, and then on Thursday when they host the Forbush Falcons in the final game of the season, which will also be the Huskies' Senior Night. The JV teams get the games underway at 4:30 p.m. with the varsity squads following at approximately 7:30 p.m.