Morganton- After a brief start to Tuesday’s home double-header was washed out by incoming storms, the Burke Heroes junior league softball team came back Thursday and played on a competitive level with the visiting McDowell Post 56 Veterans team only to fall by scores of 9-5 and 5-4.

After resuming the opening game with a 7-0 deficit, Burke only gave up a single run in two separate innings while plating two runs in the fourth inning and three in the fifth inning.

Maria Medrano scored a run in both innings while Avie Helton, Lindsey Hensley, and Rhiley Buchanan crossed the plate.

A two-RBI single by Abby Gibson and an RBI double by Helton assisted Burke in the base running.

In game two, Burke faced a 4-1 deficit after three innings as they tied the score with a Makenzie Powell single scoring Maddie Hudson and sacrifice flys by Helton and Buchanan scoring Hensley and Keighlie Clontz.

Clontz scored Burke’s other run in the second inning off a Helton RBI double.

Powell and Helton served as pitchers in both contests.

Burke Heroes next travels to Big League Camp in Marion on Monday to face McDowell Teachers.

2023 Burke Heroes Roster

#00 Raygen McDaniel

#1 Keighlie Clontz

#3 Heaven Waycaster

#5 Bailey Winkler

#7 Ava Aldridge

#11 Charli Alexander

#12 Makenzie Powell

#13 Avie Helton

#14 Abby Gibson

#15 Daniell Robinson

#16 Kadance Ward

#17 Maria Medrano

#19 Maddie Grady

#22 Lindsey Hensley

#27 Maddie Hudson

#75 Rhiley Buchanan

Coaches: Keith McDaniel, Tim Winkler, Robert Buchanan, Regan Winkler