The young Parry McCluer High School softball team held its own against the defending Pioneer District champions, but eventually, experience won out.
Eastern Montgomery broke open a close district opener with a 10-run fifth inning to defeat the Fighting Blues 14-0 on Tuesday of last week in Buena Vista. The Blues fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in district play, while the Mustangs ended the week at 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the district.
It looked like a rout might be on early. The Mustangs scored two quick runs to open the game and loaded the bases with no outs when backto- back batters were hit by pitches. Then the PM defense went to work.
Jordyn Hostetter snared a wicked line drive at second base to record the first out, and shortstop Kendall Painter chased down a pop-up in foul territory for the second. Painter then gobbled up a hard ground ball and threw to first baseman Patience Hill to end the threat.
Defense was big for the Blues most of the game. PM twice recorded double plays to end potential EM rallies. In the second inning, Painter caught a pop in the infield and threw to first to double up the runner there. Then, in the third, right fielder Lexi Armstrong caught a short fly ball and threw to third to get the runner trying to advance.
After single tallies in the third and fourth innings, the Mustangs finally broke through, scoring 10 times in the fifth. Chelsie Kennedy drove in a pair of runs with her ground ball single to center field, and Rena Chandler plated two more with a line drive to right. Mary Miller brought in two runs with a double, and Katie Salyer, Samantha Brein and Lexi Perkins also drove in runs.
Macie Akers led the Mustangs at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored. Chandler had two hits in four trips to the plate, and EM pounded out 11 hits in the contest.
Miller did the rest of the work on the mound. She did not allow a hit in tossing the shutout, striking out six while walking none. Miller allowed base runners in only one inning, but she quickly ended that threat.
Sophie Chittum led off PM in the first by reaching on an error. She was erased when Patience Hill grounded into a fielder’s choice, but Hill moved to second on a passed ball and stole third with just one out. Miller, however, fanned the next two PM batters she faced to end that threat and closed the game by retiring 11 batters in a row.
The Blues were scheduled to play host to Highland County yesterday and will continue district action at Craig County on Thursday before playing host to Patrick Henry on Friday, with both games scheduled for 5 p.m. They’ll play at Rocktown on Monday at 6 p.m. before playing host to district rival Narrows on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
PM FRESHMAN Sophie Porterfield throws to junior Kendall Painter. (Ronnie Coffey photo)
FIGHTING BLUE freshman Caroline Watts winds up before unleashing a pitch. (Ronnie Coffey photo)
