It was the same old story for the girls of the JV Scotland High School Softball team as they defeated Seventy-First High School 11-1 Tuesday afternoon, adding to their list of lopsided victories on the season.

Pitcher Taylor Hale was overpowering, yet again, in the no-hitter, allowing only one unearned run on 61 pitches with no walks and 13 strikeouts. Tuesday's game marks the second time Hale has achieved a no hitter on the year, with the first coming in a perfect game performance against Lumberton.

It was only yesterday against Purnell Swett that the Scots participated in their first game which was not shortened by the mercy rule, and head coach Joel McCanna expected today to be no different, as the Falcons have proven a stiff test in seasons past.

"Last year we had two competitive games against them, but there were no holdovers from that (Seventy-First) team," said McCanna.

The Scots found themselves ahead 6-0 by the end of the first inning, and from there McCanna and company took their collective foot off the gas, with the coach giving the order for his base runners only to advance on base hits.

With the score at 10-0 entering the top of the fifth the Falcons scored on a pass ball to extend the game to the bottom of the fifth, during which Hale (3-for-4, run) knocked in the game ending run.

On offense for Scotland Sara Cross (1-for-4, 2 runs), Courtney Collins (1-for-3, 2 runs) and Alexis Mishue (1-for-1, run) provided more than enough firepower to overcome the inexperienced Seventy-First JV squad.

As a team Scotland had 11 runs, 8 hits, 2 strikeouts, 8 walks and two batters who reached base after being hit by a pitch. Unfortunately for Scot Ashley Paolozzi, she was the player hit-by-pitch in both instances.

The Scots now turn their attention to Friday's showdown with Richmond Senior High School, a game which will likely go a long way toward determining who will win the Mid-Southeastern Conference in 2009.

"They are almost a carbon copy of what we are, with two strong pitchers," said McCanna, who anticipates a pitcher's duel with the Raiders.

"Hopefully we will not make the mistakes and they will."

This week in practice McCanna plans to get his team in front of live pitching, perhaps even scrimmaging with the varsity team in preparation for the game against Richmond.

Scotland will take on Richmond on Friday at 5 p.m. in Laurinburg.