There are fast starts in high school softball and then there are fast starts. The Chattanooga Christian Lady Chargers redefined that term at home Friday evening when the faced the Boyd Buchanan Lady Buccaneers.
It was the thing dreams are made of for the Lady Chargers and just an awful nightmare for the Lady Bucs.
CCS sent 15 hitters to the plate in that first inning and 11 of them got hits. All nine batters in their lineup scored at least one run in that frame as the lead was 10-0 when the Lady Bucs finally got the last out.
Kinley Ervin, the third Boyd pitcher in that opening inning, put out the fire with a strikeout to finally retire the side and the scrappy senior was simply outstanding as she allowed one hit and one walk the rest of the way as she kept CCS scoreless. She also had three strikeouts as she was one of few bright spots for the Lady Bucs.
CCS didn’t score again, but that first-inning uprising was enough as the Lady Chargers hung on for the 10-5 win as they improved to 10-3 with the win. Boyd Buchanan is now 7-6 as their six-game winning streak was snapped.
CCS coach Steven Rogers was happy to see such a great start from his team, but he was disappointed that they did next to nothing the rest of the way.
“We normally don’t get off to a quick start like that, but we hit it like we’re capable as we just came out on fire,” he began.
“We didn’t make the necessary adjustments after that start, but we just have to put the ball in play and keep hitting. I think we may have gotten a little complacent, but without that first inning, we lose this game,” he added.
Boyd Buchanan coach Sarah Warren-Bowles was as shellshocked as anyone with that first inning, but she was totally proud of the way her girls kept battling. Her team left at least one runner stranded in every inning – nine total – but she liked their approach and another great effort.
“It seems like we were a little bit nervous at the start and just dug ourselves too big a hole to get out of,” she smiled.
“I’m proud of the way we fought back and I’m totally cool with the effort. I just told our girls to think the score was 0-0 after that first inning and to just keep playing hard. That’s what they did. I thought we showed a lot about who we are as we’re in a good spot right now and headed in the right direction,” she added.
Kylie Black was the winning pitcher as she went the distance. She wasn’t quite as sharp as she normally is as she allowed five runs on eight hits. She also had nine strikeouts in addition to two walks and two hit batters.
Keyana Jordan had a one-out single in the first for the Lady Bucs. Cai Cai Butler reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second, but was left there.
Hannah Smith and Millie Fox both had singles to start the CCS first before Nyla Halfacre got hit to load the bases. CCS shortstop Addi Lewis then drove in the first two runs with a double just inside the left-field line.
Alli Matthews followed with another two-run double while Fox had a three-run double in her second time to the plate in that inning. Neely Fillman and Black also drove in single runs with singles while Lewis drove in her third run of the inning with a single in her second time up.
Peyton Schweiber was the starter for Boyd and was replaced after facing five hitters. Kate Murley came on in relief and didn’t fare much better as she allowed five more runs on seven hits. She did record two outs, but was replaced by Ervin following Matthews’ second hit of the inning.
Ervin then retired nine straight Lady Chargers before McKaine Layne walked with two outs in the fourth. Fillman reached on a bunt single in the fifth, but that was the only other hit CCS got after the first inning.
Meanwhile, the Lady Bucs just kept chipping away.
Ella Meade singled with one out in the third and later scored Boyd’s first run on a single by Butler. Then in the fourth, the Lady Bucs scored twice on CCS errors. Then in the top of the seventh, Butler had a leadoff single and later scored on a single by Sydney Baker. Jayde Simms, who had doubled following Butler’s single, then scored on a grounder to short by Kinly Bates.
Jordan and Butler both had two hits for the Lady Bucs as they finished with eight for the game.
Fox, Lewis, Matthews and Fillman all had two hits for the Lady Chargers.
The Lady Chargers will be at home again on Monday when they host Meigs County. Boyd Buchanan returns to action on Tuesday when they host two-time defending state champ Silverdale.
BOYD BUCHANAN 001 200 2 – 5 8 0
CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN (10)00 000 x – 10 12 2
Schweiber, Murley (1), Ervin (1) and Jordan; Black and Flowers.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)