Chargers Can't Find Pace In Tough Rivalry Race

Varsity Softball: Courtland Cougars vs. Chancellor Chargers

By: Greg Wolfe

Wednesday afternoon never went the Chancellor Chargers (1-4) way, despite another heart-filled effort by the team. The Courtland Cougars took advantage of 5 early errors, and Cameron Buzzel tossed the complete game shutout. The Chargers are still looking for some answers defensively after a rough 9-0 loss.

The game got off to a hot start, as the Cougars Allison Simpson sent a rocket into the deep Chancellor outfield, where she then sprinted around the bases to leg out a lead-off inside the park home run. The Chargers gave up another hit, but pitcher Taylor Sullivan calmed down and limited the damage.

Buzzel took the mound in the bottom of that inning, popping her teammate’s catchers mitt with some heat as she retired the Chargers top of the lineup in a breeze.

The next couple of innings, it was all Cougars as they continued to hit what Sullivan was pitching. They weren’t just hitting it, but hitting it where all the holes seemed to be. The Chargers hit the ball maybe just as hard today, but luck never swung their way and the hard-hit-balls turned into hard-hit-outs.

The Chargers showed some life in the second and fifth innings, loading the bases in both of those innings but not quite being able to capitlize off the big opportunities. Buzzel kept cruising, showing great control after losing batters early in the count multiple times.

Lindsay Pett took over the pitching duties for the Chargers in the 4th inning, and she did wonderful during her first appearance on the mound. She kept the Cougars relatively quiet, and gave her defense plenty of chances for quick outs. The defense turned things around once again, making more plays especially in the outfield. Noelle Greenwood stabilized the defense, catching three outs. In the corners of the outfield Olivia Fisher and Sullivan kept the Cougars from finding the green grass.

In the sixth inning, the Chargers looked to replicate what they did to the Massaponax Panthers earlier in the week. Kenzie Coates got things started with a sharp hit to the left field fence that she legged out into a triple and set the Chargers up. Pett, looking to help her newly acquired cause on the mound, laid down a beautiful bunt that made a close play at home. The Cougars were able to get the out, and keep the shut out in tact.

As the game came to a close, the Chargers were never able to come back and the Cougars locked up the early conference win. The Chargers next contest will come next Tuesday as they look to get back on track against the James Monroe Yellow Jackets.

Stat Section

Chancellor Chargers

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Courtland Cougars

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