The Chester Lady Jackets were three outs from picking up a big upset over top seed Trico Tuesday in the semifinals of the Steeleville 1A Softball Regional. However, the Lady pioneers scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to advance to the regional championship with a 3-2 victory.
Trico junior Kaylee Boland hit the ball hard all game long but failed to record a hit. Despite going 0-for-3, which included a double play with the bases loaded in the third inning, she blasted a deep sacrifice fly ball to bring in the game winning run from third base.
“They fought till the end,” said Trico coach Drew Franklin. “That is one thing we teach, play all seven inning and never quit until the last out is made.”
Chester got on the board first despite being held hitless over the first three innings. The Lady Jackets scored two runs on two hits, an error and two batters hit by pitches in the top of the fourth inning.
“Jordan Lodge is just coming back from a foot injury and her control was a little off today,” added Franklin.
Katie Roth came through with a clutch one-out bases loaded single to score the first run, while Shelly Lyons was hit by a pitch to bring home the second one.
Trico answered back scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth despite not recording a hit in the inning. A one-out walk to Cassie Ortiz proved to be the difference, as the SWIC signee stole second base, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit in half.
The Lady Pioneers were held to just two hits over the next two innings by Chester starter Taylor Gross, who was in control all game long.
But in the seventh, the rally got started with an infield single by freshman speedster Ashley Modglin. Modglin was able to steal second and then scored when a deep fly ball hit by Courtney Brandon was dropped when two Chester outfielders ran into each other.
With one-out and Brandon on third base, Boland came through in the clutch with the deep sacrifice fly to win the game.
“We hit so many balls hard right at people in this game,” said Franklin. “But this was a team win, everyone made big plays up and down the lineup.”
Senior Makayla Hartmann earned the win in relief of Lodge as she came in and threw three innings of no-hit ball.
Chester advanced to the semifinals with a 7-2 win over Steeleville Monday.
Steeleville scored its two runs in the top of the first inning but Chester answered with a run in the bottom half of the first and three in the fourth.
The Lady Jackets round out their scoring with three runs in the sixth.
Ashley Andrew and Lauren Hoops led the Chester offense with three hits each.