Girls softball wins Conway series

By John Smithson

The NMB Lady Chiefs softball team won two out of three games in last week’s opening region series for the Chiefs. You would not have thought that after the first game at Conway.

The Chiefs opened the series on St. Patrick’s Day but didn’t have much luck, Irish or otherwise. The Lady Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning on a Chiefs error with the bases loaded. They scored another run in the second, four runs in the third and one in the fourth.

Sadie Olson had a leadoff home run for the Chiefs in the top of the second inning, but that was the extent of the Chiefs offense. Olivia Drew was a big part of the Chiefs problem. She threw a four-hit eleven strikeout game against the Chiefs.

The Tigers roughed up Sierra Bendik who gave up seven runs on 10 hits in three innings. Isabella Foster pitched the rest of the way, allowing one run and four hits. The Tigers had 14 hits in the game, and four Chiefs errors didn’t help the Chiefs effort.

The Tigers visited North Myrtle Beach the very next evening with Capri Laughlin pitching for the Chiefs. She pitched three shutout innings while her teammates scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Sadie Olson doubled and Faithlyn Lewis walked after Olson stole third and moved to second. Olson scored on a wild pitch with Lewis going to second. Lewis scored on a single by Izzy Fitzgerald who scored the third run on a Hadley Leonhardt sdouble, and the Chiefs were up 3-0.

Conway scored four runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead 4-3. Three singles, two doubles and a Chiefs error helped.

The Chiefs loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth on singles by Lilly Carney and Izzy Bruno and a walk to Sadie Olson. Lewis walked to force in one run and Fitzgerald drove in Olson and Bruno for a 6-4 Chiefs lead.  Conway tied the game with a Chiefs error and home run by McKenzie Rabon in the top of the sixth.

The Chiefs and Tigers put zeroes on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh. Lewis walked to start the bottom of the Chiefs seventh inning and Mairead Olson pinch ran for her. Fitzgerald was hit by a pitch and Olson went to second. Carolina Porter grounded into a fielder’s choice play with Olson out at third and Fitzgerald to second. Fitzgerald scored on a Chloe Buttler single, and the Chiefs celebrated their walk-off win.

The rubber game of the series was last Friday at Conway. Sierra Bendik was back on the mound for the Chiefs, but things were different this time around, Bendik pitched a complete game, gave up one run on five hits, struck out five and walked nobody.

Olivia Drew, remember, pitched and won the first game of the series for Conway. Not this time. She gave up nine hits, seven runs, walked four and her team’s three errors contributed to the Chiefs scoring four earned runs. What a difference a few days can make.

Leonhardt and Bruno singled to open the top of the fourth inning. Carney drove in Leonhardt. A walk to Lewis loaded the bases. Another walk, a passed ball for a run and a groundout scored the third Chiefs run.

The Chiefs scored four more runs in the top of the sixth. Two singles and an error loaded the bases. One run scored on a Bendik groundout and three runs scored after Leonhardt walked and Bruno’s single gave the Chiefs a 7-0 lead.

The last two Chiefs runs came on an error at first on a Fitzgerald ground ball and a Carolina Porter home run to center field in the top of the seventh inning. The Tigers finally scored one run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the game ended with the Chiefs winning 9-1 and taking the series 2-1.

The Chiefs began their second region series on Monday, this time against Socastee. The Chiefs also have a game tonight against Aynor, at Aynor.