Kelly softball downs Chaffee

CHAFFEE -- Combining for 14 hits Tuesday afternoon against Chaffee, the Kelly Lady Hawks softball team got their first win of the season, holding off a late Lady Devil rally to win 9-4.

"I thought we played better today," Kelly coach Melanie Heuring said. "We hit the ball well, we bunted well and our pitchers did an excellent job."

Holding a lead the entire contest, the Lady Hawks were able to jump out early with Kristen Vetter hitting a bases loaded single to left in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs.

While Chaffee would start out the home half of the inning with three straight hits, the Lady Devils would only come away with a single run as Hannah Bedwell hit a ground ball up the third base side to score Adrienne Eichhorn from third.

After a scoreless second and third, Kelly would finally start to pull away in the fourth when Kristen Powell scored Michaela Gean from third on a fielder's choice followed by a passed ball bringing home Kaitlin Glastetter to make it 4-1.

After adding a another run in the fifth the Lady Hawks went on a four-run rally in the sixth for their largest lead of the afternoon at 8-1.

Coming off five scoreless innings, the Lady Devils finally broke out of their slump in the seventh, rallying for three runs to leave them down by five with runners on first and second with two outs.

Unfortunately for Chaffee fans the comeback stopped there as a high fly ball by Adrienne Eichhorn was caught in center for the third and final out of the game.

"Defensively we were a little shaky," Chaffee coach Shawn Powderly said. "Not as far as errors and stuff goes, but we have to find some people that want to go make plays.

"I think tonight everybody was a little shell shocked and waiting on somebody else to make a play instead of stepping up and doing it themselves."

Though they only scored four runs Chaffee had 10 hits on the game with Hailey Enderle leading the team going 3-for-4. Sierra Miller and Taylor Fodge tied for second on the team with two hits each.

"I'm very impressed in our two games with the way we've been swinging," Powderly said. "We've had a ton of base runners and we're giving ourselves chances. If you do that you're going to be in good shape."

As for Kelly's hot night at the plate, all nine Lady Hawks starters came away with a hit including five girls with multiple hits.

Emily Grojean, Haley Glastetter and Jade Rampley all collected three hits each while Kaitlin Glastetter and Vetter had two hits each.

Earning the win, Kristen Powell went five innings allowing one run and seven hits while striking out seven.

Heuring said she was proud of Powell and Kaitlin Glastetter's pitching performances in getting the Lady Hawks their first win.

"I thought Powell did well," she said. "She got ahead in the count a lot and didn't walk but one or two. Kaitlin (Glastetter) did too when she came in. Kept it low away from their hands. I think that's what they need to do."

With Kelly's 2-1 loss Monday to East Carter the Lady Hawks now stand at 1-1 on the season. They'll now get a week off before they take on visiting Delta Tuesday at 4 p.m.

With Chaffee opening the season with a 9-8 win over Neelyville the Lady Devils also stand at 1-1. Next they will take on visiting Scott City Thursday at 4 p.m.

Kelly 200 214 0 - 9

Chaffee 100 000 3 - 4

WP -- Kristen Powell. LP -- Taylor Fodge. Multiple hitters -- (K) Emily Grojean 3-5, Kaitlin Glastetter 2-5, Haley Glastetter 3-5, Kristen Vetter 2-4, Jade Rampley 3-4; (C) Sierra Miller 2-4, Taylor Fodge 2-4, Hailey Enderle 3-4. 2B -- (K) Hailey Glastetter; (C) Adrienne Eichhorn, Fodge. 3B -- (K) Kaitlin Glastetter.