A two out walk off triple by the Catawba Ridge Copperheads cemented a game winning rally.
Catawba Ridge won 5-4 off a triple by Peyton Batot after walks to Camryn Bird and Charli Burney in the bottom of the seventh. The Copperheads improved to 15-8 overall and 8-2 in Region 3-5A, while the Falcons fell to 15-7 and 6-4 in the region.
“We just kept battling,” said Catawba Ridge head softball coach Mike Mayak. “Charli had a great at-bat and Cam(ryn) had a great at-bat before her. Peyton came through with a huge hit in the end. She has worked her butt off since last summer. She has worked so hard. If there is going to be any person you would want to be hand-picked to get the hit, it would be her. I am so happy for her.”
Both teams faced the minimum in the first inning as starters BG Yates for the Copperheads and Paizlei Ross for Nation Ford started strong in the circle.
In the top of the second inning, Ross was hit by a pitch and Jackie Knol was walked to put Nation Ford in good position. But this is where things stalled out as the Falcons were able to get them in.
The bottom of the second, Charli Burney doubled to get things started for the Copperheads. However, like her cross-town counterparts Burney was left on second to end the inning without scoring.
After a quick top of the third, Catawba Ridge got on the board. Ella Gaither led the bottom of the third inning off with a single. Jaidyn Harris doubled scoring Gaither and Yates singled scoring Harris to give the Copperheads a 2-0 lead.
Catawba Ridge kept it going in the fourth as Batot reached on an error, but wasn’t able to drive her in.
Yates continued to cruise in the circle for the Copperheads despite allowing a walk to Knol and a double to Brooke Ressler, as she was able to keep the Falcons from scoring.
In the bottom of the fifth, Harris singled and then stole second. Yates then doubled in Harris leading to a Nation Ford pitching change. Kailey Alston came in for Ross, who went four innings allowing three runs on seven hits, while walking one and striking out six.
After the pitching change, Mia Kovacs walked, but despite threatening the Copperheads didn’t add to its lead.
Nation Ford’s Makayla Bess led the sixth inning off with a single up the middle and Maci Ladamus walked. Then with one out, Ross hit a two-run single to score Nation Ford’s first runs of the game. After a walk to Knol, Ella Witkopf then doubled in Ross and courtesy runner Natalee Holifield to put the Falcons ahead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Taylen Sistare walked and Harris singled to put runners in scoring position with two outs, but was unable to tie the game.
Nation Ford threatened again in the seventh, but the Copperheads kept them at bay. After getting one out, Yates was relieved by Nora Mari. Yates would go six and a third innings allowing four runs on six hits while striking out 13 and walking four.
Harris went 3-4 with an RBI and Yates would go 2-4 with two RBIs to lead Catawba Ridge at the plate. Batot also has two RBIs in the game.
Nation Ford was led by Bess, who went 2-4, while Ross and Witkopf each had two RBIs for the Falcons. Nation Ford head coach Shelby Sosebee said she hated to lose, but if they were going to, that was the best way to do so.
“I am really proud of their energy and how they bounced back,” she said.
The Copperheads travel to Rock Hill for its next game, while Nation Ford host Clover.
April 24 Roundup
The Fort Mill softball team beat Lancaster 6-2. Haley Rogers went five innings and struck out four to get the win. Fort Mill is now 13-10 overall on the season.
The Fort Mill baseball team lost game three of their series to Indian Land 8-0 to fall to 11-12 overall and 7-8 in Region 3-5A. JT Leonhardt led Fort Mill at the plate going 2-3.
The Nation Ford baseball team fell in nine innings 10-9 to Clover on the road to drop to 15-8 overall and 9-6 in Region 3-5A. Micah Prowsior led the Falcons going 3-4 at the plate and both Alex Smith and Michael Caropreso each had two RBIs.
The Catawba Ridge baseball team beat Rock Hill 3-0 to sweep the season series. The Copperheads are now 14-9 on the season and 9-6 in Region 3-5A.
The Catawba Ridge boys’ soccer team beat Nation Ford 2-1 in overtime. The win put the Copperheads at 12-5 overall and 9-1 in Region 3-5A, while the loss dropped Nation Ford to 7-11 overall and 4-6 in the region.
The Nation Ford girls’ soccer team beat Catawba Ridge 2-1. The Falcons improved to 12-3 and 8-2 in Region 3-5A. The Copperheads fell to 16-3-1 and 7-3 in the region.
The Catawba Ridge girls’ lacrosse team fell on the road to Byrnes 14-7 to finish the regular season at 4-12 overall. Late on Thursday, Catawba Ridge beat Indian Land 22-4 to finish 3-5 in Region 3-5A.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
