INMAN, S.C. – Friday night may have been the season finale for the Chapman softball team, but for senior Abbe Miller, it was a chance to close out her high school career with a bang.
Miller and her teammates were locked in at the plate, striking early and often on the way to a 19-2 victory over Region II-4A champion Greer in five innings, earning a season sweep over the Yellow Jackets. After falling behind by a run, Chapman answered in their half of the first inning by sending 10 batters to the dish and scoring four runs. During the frame, Miller drew a walk and stole second, which turned into a double steal as Sarah Grace Byrd scored from third. The Lady Panthers tacked on three more runs in the frame for a 4-1 lead. Chapman posted three more multi-run innings, plating four runs in the second, along with five in the third and six in the fourth inning, respectively. “She has really stepped into a leadership position,” head coach Chelsie Skinner stated. “For some players, they don’t always fill that role when they become seniors. She really has become a true leader on this team. She’s taken some of the younger ones under her wing and helped them, whether it’s at practice, games, or even in the weight room. I’m super, super proud of the way she has been a leader on this team.” Miller didn’t record an official at-bat during her final game, but used her veteran instincts to draw three walks, while also reaching on a hit-by-pitch and recording two stolen bases. In the fifth inning, Miller moved from behind the plate to second base during her last turn playing defense. After the final out was recorded, the team and coaches embraced Miller in the middle of the field and celebrated her time as a member of the softball program. “Heading into the game,” Miller said. “I was nervous, but to be able to come out here and step on the field one last time with my girls meant the world to me. All of the girls kept me going tonight, whether it was cheers or chants, even from the other team. My time (at Chapman) has been unbelievable, unreal, and almost like a dream.” Chapman finishes the 2021 campaign at 9-9 overall, but returns a core led by three rising seniors and a number of rising juniors. -Justin Mathis Comments are closed.
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