Inman Post 45 Softball And Chesnee Post 48 Softball Split Doubleheader To End Regular Season7/6/2023
CHESNEE, SC - The Chesnee Post 48 and Inman Post 45 American Legion softball teams split a doubleheader on Thursday night to close out the regular season part of their schedules this year.
Inman Post 45 used a big top of the fifth inning to down Chesnee Post 48 in game one by a score of 4-3. Chesnee opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Harley Grady scored on a bases loaded double play to take a 1-0 lead, a score that held until the top of the fifth inning. Inman saw seven straight batters reach base and plated four runs as all four runs scored in consecutive RBI singles. Lilly Seesholtz, Myah Salters, Lillian Wilson, and Kenslie Edwards each collected the RBI singles in the top of the fifth inning to put Inman ahead 4-1 over the homestanding team from Chesnee. Chesnee attempted to answer back in the bottom of the fifth inning, but it wasn't enough as their two runs wasn't enough to overcome the three-run deficit they faced heading into the final inning of game one. Claire Owens, Harley Grady, and Jada Sellars each hit one out singles to start the rally for Post 48 with Sellars picking up an RBI while Natalie Morris also added an RBI groundout. After dropping game one, Chesnee Post 48 bounced back in the second half of the doubleheader to take game two by a score of 7-5. Claire Owens got Chesnee Post 48 off to a fast start in the bottom of the first inning with a leadoff triple before later scoring on a Harley Grady RBI single. Grady would later steal second and score on Jada Sellars RBI double as Ansley Blanton drive in Sellars with a two out RBI double of her own for a 3-0 lead. Post 45 answered back in the top of the second inning with a two out solo shot by Gracie Dehart to cut the Post 48 lead to 3-1. Chesnee once again got a spark from the speed of Claire Owens after she drew a walk, and later stole second before scoring on Jada Sellars second extra base hit of the game, this time a RBI double. Inman responded once again in the top of the third inning as Kenslie Edwards hit a leadoff single and stole a pair of bases before scoring on Lillian Wilson's RBI sacrifice fly. Leah Taylor followed with a double and later scored on Bella Ballanger's two-run home run to tie the game. Post 48 reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Rhylee Malott hit a two out RBI double. The top of the fourth inning saw big moments by both teams as Post 45 got three straight singles from Gracie Dehart, Myah Salters, and Kenslie Edwards to start the inning as each advanced one base on Lillian Wilson's RBI sacrifice fly to cut the Post 48 lead to one run. The key moment for Post 48 came when shortstop Kyndall Brill fielded a liner just before it hit the dirt and threw to third base to turn an inning ending double play. Harley Grady and Jada Sellars once again paired up to plate another run for Post 48 as Grady hit a single and stole second before scoring on Sellars' third extra base hit of the game, this one a double to give Post 48 a 7-5 lead. Kyndall Brill once again came through for Post 48 in the field in the top of the fifth inning, this time in the circle, as she sent Post 45 down in order to pick up the save. Sellars had a strong night for Post 48 as she picked up the win in game two in the circle as well as going five for six at the plate with four RBIs, three extra base hits including a triple while scoring a pair of runs. "There is a lot of teams who would love to have Jada Sellars play for them," said Fogle. "I'm glad she is one of ours instead of having to go against her." This American Legion softball season will benefit the Chesnee softball program for years to come as every player on the Post 48 team played in the Chesnee High/Middle system last season, and all but one player will return at some level next season. "Everyone that has played this summer has gotten better," said Fogle. "Our girls got great experience playing against some tough competition and it will only benefit us going forward as a program." Chesnee Post 48 and Inman Post 45 now wait for the playoff brackets to be released to see when and where they begin the playoffs next week. Comments are closed.
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