ALLEN GREGORY
Bristol Herald Courier
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Baker-led Falcons improve to 18-3 with win over Gate City
GATE CITY, Va. - Following two years of growth in softball, the Abingdon Falcons have arrived in style.
For the third straight season, Lauren Baker has been a guiding force.
"It's a been a great year," Baker said. "We're all competing and having fun together."
Another dose of fun came Wednesday as AHS rolled to a 14-0 win over the Gate City Blue Devils in five innings.
Baker, who juggles four positions, showed her versatility in the Mountain 7 District clash.
Battling leadoff, Baker supplied a triple and a single. In the circle, the junior left-hander allowed just one hit and recorded five strikeouts over the first three innings.
People are also reading... 2025 "PAPPY" THOMPSON AWARD FINALIST NO. 3: Ryan O'Quinn, Ridgeview 2025 "PAPPY" THOMPSON AWARD FINALIST NO. 2: Emmah McAmis, Wise County Central HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: Childress-led John Battle lambasts Lee, Mountain 7 standings for Region 2D teams far from settled HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS HOOPS: John Battle searching for new coach, while Eastside and J.I. Burton have theirs HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER: Gate City boys win first-place showdown with Abingdon; GC girls win too Montgomery charged with first-degree murder TUESDAY'S HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: Caden Altizer (Honaker), Collyn Neff (Union), Kaelyn Dales (Wise Central), Gracie Garrett (Lee High), Allison Akers (Rye Cove), Leah Rasnake (Grundy), Wrenn Rainero and Grayson Woodall (Abingdon) among stars THURSDAY'S HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: Emma Sartin and Tony Underwood (Eastside), Avery Weston (Lee High), Aliyah Davidson (Union), Jailey Gross (Honaker), Lauren Monroe (Gate City), Ollie Foy (Virginia High) among plenty of standouts HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS HOOPS: Mark Dockery is Eastside's new coach Completed car tower latest addition to Centre Point Bristol development Rezoning would allow RV park to operate near I-81 Exit 7 WEDNESDAY'S HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: Chase Wolfenbarger (Tennessee High), Hayden Reed (Abingdon), Chelsi Riffe (Grundy), Jocelyn Aldrich and Emma Sartin (Eastside), Trey Ward (Rural Retreat), Sam Whitman (Union), Ella Dales (Graham) among many stars Curt's Ace Hardware hosts grand opening for new Bristol location 2025 "PAPPY" THOMPSON AWARD FINALIST NO. 1: Tyler Barrett, Patrick Henry Route 58 to reopen next week; most highway infrastructure damage repaired
"I will play wherever my team needs me," Baker said. "I've been in a slump pitching wise and I put a lot of pressure on myself leading into this week. But I'm throwing well again."
Junior right-hander Ada Gillenwater, a power throwing transfer from Gate City, allowed just one baserunner and added four strikeouts in the final two innings for AHS.
Third-year AHS coach Chelsea Campbell knows what to expect from Baker.
"Even as a freshman, Lauren was stepping up for us as a leader and she's been a huge asset on offense, on defense and in the circle," Cambell said. "When Ada joined our team as a pitcher, I think it took some pressure off Lauren."
Wednesday's win completed a 12-0 regular season run through the Mountain 7 for the 18-3 Falcons.
AHS, which starts five seniors, returned seven starters from a 17-10 team that advanced to the Region 3D semifinals last year.
"I expected us to have a really good season, but I don't think anyone else did," Campbell said. "I have a group of strong senior leaders, and the rest of our team has been playing just as good."
According to Campbell, the transition to a new program was smooth for Gillenwater.
"Ada played travel ball with a lot of our girls growing up, so she knew our team," Campbell said. "Ada is happy and we're happy."
The Falcons opened an 8-0 lead by the third inning Wednesday, collected a total of 13 hits and played flawless defense.
Gillenwater drove in four runs on two hits, while Mariah Branscomb supplied two hits and three stolen bases. Brenna Green and Bailey Hamer each added two hits.
Branscomb, senior Muriel Dillow, freshman Scout Summitt and Kendyll Cole are all hitting over .400.
The regular lineup for Gate City (0-19, 0-11) includes four freshmen, two sophomores, two juniors and one senior in left fielder Braley Page.
"This is the youngest team I've had," veteran GC coach Cara Noe said. "The players just have to trust that we as coaches will get them where they need to be.
"I see growth, and we're going to go all out in the rest of our games."
The lone hit for the Blue Devils came on a bunt single in third inning from No. 9 batter Jayden Boatwright.
Junior right-hander Lauren Monroe recorded five strikeouts for GC in a complete game. Monroe also leads the team with a batting average over .300.
"Lauren does a good job for us every game, but we need to limit our errors and that just comes from a lack of experience," Noe said.
Meanwhile, the future is now for an AHS squad that averages over 10 runs per game.
"We want to win a state title, and we're also trying to beat the records of the 2015 Abingdon team that won a district title," Campbell said. "The Mountain 7 has good pitchers and good hitters, but our girls have played relaxed and have been eager to put in extra work.
"I knew that we were going to peak at some point, and it has come at a good time this season."
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.