INMAN, SC - It may have taken one more game than they wanted it to, but the Chapman softball team claimed the district championship with a 4-1 victory over Seneca on Wednesday night.
The district clinching victory came in the second game on Wednesday night as the Panthers fell in a tough one 2-1 in the first game to the Bobcats. "There was no cushion there in that second game, so you have to get the win," said Chapman head coach Casey Green. "I'm super proud of the team." Both teams started out the second game keeping each other off the base paths as only three batters reached base over the first two and a half innings of play. In the bottom of the third inning, the Panthers Rylan Sneed reached base on an infield single before being able to advance to third base on a sacrifice bunt down the third base line from Hailey Coley. Sneed gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead when she scored on a sacrifice fly to leftfield by Abbey Gossett that was just feet short of being a two run homerun. With two outs in the top of the fifth inning, Seneca was able to tie the game at 1-1 before Chapman pitcher Reagan Garrett struck out the final batter of the inning with runners at second and first base to put a stop to the Bobcats rally. Chapman didn't take long to respond as the Panthers scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to retake the lead over the Bobcats. Dixie Frady and Lexie Krivicich led off the inning with back-to-back singles to put runners at second and first base for the Panthers. The next two Panthers batters saw two back-to-back outs before Abby Gossett was walked to load the bases for the Panthers. With the bases full of Panthers, Krislyn Britt-Wilder hit a single to right centerfield scoring both Frady and Krivicich to put the Panthers ahead 3-1 over the Bobcats. Wilder was followed by Sarah Byrd who also singled to right centerfield scoring Gossett from third base to push the Chapman lead to 4-1 over Seneca. Seneca was able to get a runner on in the seventh inning but a line drive to shortstop Sarah Byrd allowed her to get a double play after making the catch and then throwing out a Bobcats runner who had broke for second on the play. With two outs the Bobcats were able to get another runner on base but on the next at-bat Panther's catcher Hailey Coley made a beautiful pickoff throw to first base to nab the Bobcats runner and send the Panthers to the Upper State championship series. Chapman got a great start in the pitching circle from Reagan Garrett as she only allowed one run over seven innings while striking out three Seneca batters. In the first game the two teams battled as well until Seneca was able to get the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth inning when Kylie Kalchthaler scored from second base on an infield single by Georgia Jones. The Panthers will now host Union County on Friday to start the 3A Upper State championship series. Broome will face Palmetto on the other side of the Upper State championship bracket. Comments are closed.
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