North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
By John Smithson
The North Myrtle Beach Lady Chiefs opened their home softball season last Friday night against the number one ranked Aynor Lady Blue Jackets and the visitors took advantage of Chiefs errors to spoil the home opener with a 7-2 victory.
The Chiefs dropped a fly to left field to open the game, and a second error on a sacrifice bunt scored the first run of the game for Aynor. The Chiefs got the run back in the bottom of the first, loading the bases on three walks and plating Hadley Leonhart on a fielders choice grounder by Sadie Olson.
The two teams and their pitchers settled down over the next three innings and the score remained tied until the top of the fifth inning. After a lineout to second opened the inning, Aynor’s bats came alive with three hits and Chiefs outfielders running into each other and letting balls get by with three runs scoring. A sacrifice fly scored the fourth run and Aynor led 5-1 after the top of the fifth inning.
Sierra Bendik had an infield hit to open the bottom of the fifth inning and she scored after a single by Lilly Carney. Sadie Olson hit a ball deep to right field, but a catch and great throw home kept Carney at third. A walk to Faithlyn Lewis put runners on first and third but Carolina Porter struck out to end the fifth.
The Blue Jackets made the first two outs in the top of the sixth before a single and double and a laser shot over third scored the last two runs for Aynor.
The Chiefs were down in order in the sixth and bottom of the seventh with two strikeouts in each inning to close out their disappointing first loss of the season.
The Chiefs played their second home game of the season against visiting Hartsville on Wednesday evening.
