Parry McCluer Falls To SMLCA, Routs Narrows
The Parry McCluer High School softball team split a pair of games last week, falling 8-5 in nondistrict action last Monday at Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy before earning a 23-6 home win in five innings over Pioneer District rival Narrows.
With the win over Narrows (1-8 overall, 0-3 district), the Fighting Blues (3-7, 2-1) completed a sweep of the regular-season series with the Green Wave. When the teams met on April 3 at Narrows, PM won 18-2 in five innings.
In the rematch, the Blues capitalized on six Narrows errors to pull away from a game that was close after the first two innings, while PM committed no errors. PM led 11-6 after the second inning before scoring six runs in the third and adding six runs in the fourth.
The Green Wave took a 2-0 lead in the first when Kaylee Duncan stole home and Holly Gilbert scored on a groundout by Gracie Caudill.
In the bottom of the first, the Blues loaded the bases with a single and two walks. Logan Vest and Patience Hill then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game 2-2. The Blues would add six more runs in the inning to go up 8-2. Julian scored on a groundout by Sophie Chittum, and Alysa Wheeler singled on a grounder to shortstop to drive in Kendall Painter and Jordyn Hostetter. The Blues scored three more runs when Vest hit an inside-the-park home run to center field, bringing home Wheeler and Kinleigh Wallace.
Narrows answered back in the top of the second. A double on a grounder to center field by Gilbert brought in Kaylee Duncan and Maddi Shay to cut PM’s lead to 8-4. Braylee Robertson then singled on a fly ball to right field to drive in Gilbert and Kaycee Duncan, trimming the Blues’ lead to 8-6. PM freshman pitcher Sophie Chittum then ended the scoring with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the second, Painter singled on a fly ball to right field and later scored on a wild pitch. Hostetter would score on a sacrifice fly to left field by Wallace, and Hill walked with the bases loaded to bring home Chittum, giving PM an 11-6 lead.
The Blues prevented Narrows from scoring again and kept their offense going in the third, scoring on a pop out, a walk and two singles to extend their lead to 17-6. In the fourth, PM scored four runs on two Narrows errors and two more when Julian singled on a grounder to right field to bring home Vest and Remi Hickman.
PM racked up 11 hits against two Narrows pitchers. Painter led the Blues with four hits and had three RBIs, while Vest had three hits and led PM with seven RBIs.
Narrows had five hits, led by Robertson with two hits and two RBIs. Chittum earned the win on the mound for PM. In 3.2 innings, Chittum struck out four while allowing three hits, no walks and one earned run.
Three days earlier, the Blues suffered an 8-5 road loss to SMLCA in Moneta. With the win, the Ospreys avenged a 10-8 loss to PM on April 1 in Buena Vista.
The Blues were scheduled to play host to district Eastern Montgomery yesterday and will play at Nelson County tonight, Wednesday, at 7 p.m. before returning to district action at Craig County on Thursday at 5 p.m. On Saturday, they’ll play host to local rival Rockbridge County at 1 p.m.
PM SOPHOMORE Kendall Painter smiles while standing at third base near assistant coach Jimmy Emore during the Blues’ 23-6 win over Narrows. Painter led the Blues with four hits, had three RBIs, and scored two runs. AT RIGHT, Painter slides into home plate. (Ronnie Coffey photos)
FIGHTING BLUE freshman Sophie Chittum awaits a pitch. Chittum had one hit, one walk and one RBI, and she scored two runs. She also pitched for the Blues for 3.2 innings, striking out four while allowing three hits, no walks and one earned run. (Ronnie Coffey photo)
