Softball team 2-1 in playoffs

By John Smithson

The NMB Lady Chiefs softball team had a full week of playoff action last week, winning two of three games. The Chiefs beat Myrtle Beach, lost to Conway and then beat Chapin at home last Friday night.

The Chiefs began at home last Monday night with Myrtle Beach across the diamond for their first-round playoff game.

Isabella Foster started for the Chiefs and pitched three and two-third innings, allowed two hits and one run with five strikeouts. Sierra Bendik relieved her in the fourth inning after one run was in and went the rest of the way after striking out the last batter in the fourth inning.

As usual the Chiefs offense battered two Seahawks pitchers, banging out 17 hits and scoring 10 runs for the 10-1 victory.

Bendik and Sadie Olson had consecutive hits in the bottom of the first inning but were stranded. In the bottom of the second Izzy Bruno, Faithlyn Lewis and Chloe Butler singled before Carolina Porter drove in Bruno and Lewis for a 2-0 lead.

Bendik grounded out but Olson walked intentionally to load the bases again before Lilly Carney singled to left and picked up two RBIs as Butler and Porter scored. Hadley Leonhardt followed with a single to bring Olson and extend the lead to 5-0.

After the Seahawks got their fourth inning run, the Chiefs loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth on Bendik, Olson and Carney singles. Leonhardt drove in Olson and Bendik for a 7-1 lead. Carney scored on a 6-3 putout for an 8-1 Chiefs lead.

The Chiefs added single runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings for their 10-1 lead. Bendik struck out three batters sandwiched around a double and single by the Seahawks to end the top of the seventh inning and close out the 10-1 win.

Nine Chiefs got at least one hit in the game and Leonhardt and Bruno each had three runs batted in.

The Chiefs second playoff game was last Wednesday at Conway, and it was a win that got away for the Chiefs. The Chiefs scored one run in the bottom of the first on a Carolina Porter double and a single to left by Sadie Olson.

Conway took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning after Chiefs starter Bendik walked Drew on four pitches and Benton Causey followed with a home run to center field.

The Chiefs retook the lead with a three-run top of the fifth. Olson and Carney singles were followed by a Leonhardt double scoring Carney and Olson, Bruno double scoring Leonhardt and a Bendik ground out that scored Bruno for a 5-2 lead.

Conway added a run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth and a 5-3 score. Carolina Porter homered for the Chiefs in the top of the fifth for a 6-3 lead. Neither team scored in the sixth and the Chiefs were down in order in the top of the seventh.

Conway used an error in left and a walk to put two runners on with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. McKenzie Rabon then homered to left on a 3/2 count and tied the game at 6-6. Both teams failed to score in the eighth.

The Chiefs had Izzy Bruno on second by rule in the top of the ninth. Bendik sacrificed her to third for one out. Faithlynn Lewis bunted for an out and Bruno was declared out for missing the bag at third trying to score a go-ahead run.

Conway also bunted their second base runner to third in the ninth but then scored the winning run on a fielder’s choice grounder that gave Conway a 7-6 win.

Coach Krystal Mante expressed the disappointment in the Conway loss. “It was tough to give up a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to tie the score in the 7-6 loss at Conway. Especially losing in the bottom of the ninth. It was a tough night,” Mante said.

Bendik was back on the rubber last Friday for the Chiefs third playoff game of the week, this time with Chapin visiting The Hank.

After the Chiefs Capri Laughlin’s diving catch in center helped the Chiefs to a three up and down top of the first, the Chiefs scored their first run in the bottom of that inning. With two outs Olson walked and came home on a Carney single over first base for a 1-0 lead.

The Chiefs added two more runs in the fourth. Leonhardt and Bruno singled and Bendik drove in Leonhardt on a single to left. Bruno went to third on the play and scored on a wild pitch with Lewis at bat.

The Chiefs left three on base in fourth and fifth innings, but Bendik was pitching a gem. She gave up only one hit and struck out eight, three Ks in the top of the seventh.

Coach Mante called it a “great pitching job. It was probably her last home game, so she went out with a bang. We got some timely hitting, good baserunning and our defense was solid. It’s the kind of game you like to play all the time and really the kind of game we are capable of. They were in it, wanted to win and focused on our next game at Conway (on Monday).”

The Chiefs played Conway on Monday and needed a win to stay in the playoffs.