Photo from Brooke Leatherwood

Hayesville, NC- The Hayesville Yellow Jackets jumped out to an early lead on Tuesday and never looked back as they picked up their first win of the young 2023 season.

Michael Mauney started things off for the Jackets at the plate, as he scampered around the bases for an inside-the-park home run on a line drive shot to left field. After an Avery Leatherwood double later in the inning, Dakota Matheson drove home the third run of the inning on a single to short. After a run or two scored due to passed balls and errors, Braxton Cherry knocked a two-run double to left that scored the 8th and final run of the very busy first inning for the Jackets.

Hayesville would go on to add another run in the bottom of the 5th and the bottom of the 6th inning, ending the game early by way of the 10 run-rule and taking home a 10-0 victory over SMC foe Andrews.

Michael Mauney led the Jackets at the plate, going 3-3 at the plate with a double, a home run, and 3 runs batted in. Avery Leatherwood, Braxton Cherry, and Peyton McGaha were also credited with extra-base hits in the Jacket’s win.

While Hayesville’s bats were working early and often, Andrews did not have the same luck as Braxton Cherry and Chance Hughes combined for a 2 hit shutout over the Wildcats. Cherry started the game on the mound and was credited with the W as he allowed just one hit over 3 innings while striking out 6 batters and walking just one.