Chargers Show Fight, Barely Lose To Patriots

Varsity Softball: Albemarle Patriots vs. Chancellor Chargers

By: Greg Wolfe

A couple weeks ago, the Chancellor Chargers (2-6) faced a rough defeat to today's opponent the Albemarle Patriots. Memories of that past game were gone by today, and the Chargers were able to show much more fight in a close 12-9 loss.

In the top of the first inning, the Patriots were able to take advantage of 3 Charger errors to push across 4 runs. The Chargers starting pitcher, Lindsay Pett, showed great poise on the mound as she worked around trouble and prevented a bad inning.

In the bottom of that first inning, her offense rewarded her with four runs to tie the game up. Sam Tillman, Sarah Tiller, and Noelle Greenwood started things off by all getting on base successfully. They all scored, thanks to a couple miscues by the Patriots but the Charger offense was alive and well throughout the entire inning, stealing bases and causing chaos.

To start the second inning, the Patriots continued stringing hits together but were held to just two runs. The Chargers offense showed resilience again, as they scored one back and kept the game close at 5-4.

After that inning, Pett settled down and only allowed two runs in her next three innings. She also totalled six strikeouts on the day, only walking a single batter which made the Patriots have to earn every run they got. Unfortunately, the Charger bats were held silence for almost the rest of the game. Patriot pitcher Ellie Cain held down the fort almost all game. She caused a lot of in play outs, not relying on any strikeouts as she only had one strikeout victim the entire game.

In the sixth inning, the Chargers new pitcher Taylor Sullivan began to show signs of struggle, but she was assured everything would be alright after Greenwood (who had been moved to left field earlier in the game) made a spectacular diving grab for an out. After that out, Sullivan was able to calm down and retire the side.

While down 12-5 headed into the final frame, most teams would find trouble trying to rally runs together. This Chargers team, who has shown to have a large heart all year, did not give up. They rallied in the bottom of the 7th, scoring four runs just like they had started the game. Tillman and Tiller continued to have a great day at the plate as their swings look to be finally coming together. The late rally wasn't enough however, and the Chargers would ultimately fall 12-9.

This was the last game for the Chargers before a week-off break thanks to spring break, but they'll be back in action just as strong as ever when they hit the road to face the conference-annually-greats King George Foxes.

Stat Section

Chancellor Chargers

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Albemarle Patriots

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