Grundy Co. Gets First Softball Win Over CSAS

Lady Jackets Fall Short Against South Pittsburg In Lookout Valley Invitational

  • Thursday, March 23, 2017
  • John Hunt
Grundy County pitcher Bailee Sweeton (12) slides safely into second under the tag of CSAS' Jade Hester. The action took place in the Lookout Valley Invitational Thursday afternoon. The Lady Yellow Jackets defeated the Lady Patriots, 10-3, in a game called due ti time limit.
Grundy County pitcher Bailee Sweeton (12) slides safely into second under the tag of CSAS' Jade Hester. The action took place in the Lookout Valley Invitational Thursday afternoon. The Lady Yellow Jackets defeated the Lady Patriots, 10-3, in a game called due ti time limit.
photo by Dennis Norwood

Grundy County got its first softball win of the season with a 10-3 victory over CSAS in the Lookout Valley Invitational Thursday evening, but they came up short in the next game in a 10-9 loss to South Pittsburg.

The three-day tournament continues with more pool play on Friday at the O’Mary-Conard Field next to Lookout Valley Elementary School while bracket play will take place on Saturday.

Lookout Valley was the easy winner of the day as they won by forfeit over Notre Dame, which didn’t have enough players to take the field in the first game.

The Lady Jackets didn’t waste any time taking the lead as they scored three runs in the first before adding four in the second and three more in the third.

The Lady Patriots countered with two in the first and another in the third, but that wasn’t nearly enough to prevail.

“That one feels good,” said Grundy County coach Jason Evans after his team had won for the first time this season after three straight losses.

“We cut out our errors and we eliminated the mental mistakes.  We have a much better chance of winning if we don’t beat ourselves.  We know we’re plenty capable of hitting the ball well, but you have to be able to move runners over to have a chance and we were able to do that in this game,” he added.

Teah Bosio led off the game with a walk and later scored on an error while Kristen Weaver’s two-run single extended that lead to 3-0.

Joya Greer had a walk to lead off the bottom of the first before Jade Hester reached on an infield hit.  Lexie Meyners then reached on a fielders choice as Greer went to third.  Both Greer and Meyners scooted home on a double to right-center by Dacia Edwards.

The Lady Jackets then added to their lead in the second as they used four singles and two walks to score four times, two of those scoring on a passed ball and a wild pitch.  Weaver drove in her third run with a single.

Then in the top of the third, Bosio reached on a one-out error before Meleah Stevens dropped a perfect bunt for a hit and both scored ahead of a three-run homer by Emilee Meeks down the line in right.  She also had a two-run blast in almost the same spot in the loss to the Lady Pirates.

CSAS had a chance for a big inning in the third, but a base-running blunder eliminated those chances.

Greer led off with a bunt single while Hester reached on a fielders choice.  Meyners then reached on a third-strike passed ball to load the sacks with nobody out.

Alaina Thomas drove in the only run of the inning with a single to left before Edward popped to the catcher for the first out.  Hester broke for the plate without thinking and was easily doubled off third while Makayla Ragland then grounded to third to end the inning.

Neither team scored in the fourth and the game was called by time limit after the Lady Patriots batted.

CSAS coach Michelle Meyners is optimistic there are better days ahead for her Lady Patriots, but they just didn’t show it on Thursday.

“We just didn’t show up today,” she began her post-game comments as her team fell to 0-2 on the young season.

“We just didn’t have our heads in the game.  We have to learn how to cut out the errors and get the bats going.  There’s a lot of potential there, but we just didn’t show it today,” she explained.

Stevens and Weaver were the only Grundy players with two hits while Meeks and Weaver both had three runs batted in.

Liz Morgan, Kristen Stiefel, Bailey Sweeton, Meeks and Bosio all had one hit apiece.

Cydney Kapperman joined teammates Greer, Hester, Thomas and Edwards with one hit each for the Lady Patriots.

Sweeton was the winning pitcher after allowing the three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out one.  Meyners was the losing pitcher after allowing all 10 runs on nine hits.  She also had a pair of strikeouts while walking four.

Bosio had three hits in the loss against the Lady Pirates while Meeks and Morgan both had two hits apiece.  Meeks had another homer against the Lady Pirates and finished the game with three runs batted in.

GRUNDY CO.  343 0 – 10 9 0

CSAS  201 0 – 3 5 2

Sweeton and Seagroves; Meyners and Kapperman.

(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

Grundy County's Emilee Meeks rounds first after crushing a home run over the right field fence.
Grundy County's Emilee Meeks rounds first after crushing a home run over the right field fence.
photo by Dennis Norwood
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