| Eight runs in the third propel Westview softball to win | By: Stephanie Sturgis – Weakley County Press Sports Editor
| Posted: Thursday, April 29, 2010 9:07 pm
| 
Unwelcome visitor — Westview courtesy runner Maddison Henderson was welcomed to home plate and tagged out with a glove to the face during her team’s 12-0 win over visiting Gibson County on Monday afternoon. Photo by Stephanie Sturgis | | | The Westview Lady Chargers delivered a knockout blow with an eight-run third inning in their 12-0 win over the visiting Gibson County Lady Pioneers on Monday afternoon at the Martin Recreation Complex.
Westview grabbed an early 4-0 lead after an inning, but it was the third Lady Chargers’ at-bat that truly determined the final outcome.
The Lady Chargers took advantage of four GC errors and two walks to go along with their six hits in the big inning.
Ashley Bynum got things started with a walk followed by Shaylon Robb’s single. Both runners moved closer to home on Mckenzie Norris’ sacrifice bunt and came home on Katelyn Bowen’s single to left. The WHS merry-go-round continued to turn as the next nine Lady Chargers reached base via hits, walks or errors. Kelly Gaston drove in a pair with a single and Bynum, in her second trip to the plate in the third, ripped a two-run double to the gap in right center field. Robb drove in Bynum with her second single of the inning and scored the eighth Westview run of the inning on an error to extend the Lady Charger lead to a dozen runs at 12-0.
Gibson County threatened in the top of the fourth taking advantage of two walks from WHS starter Shanna Chappell, but Robb made two catches in right field, including a sliding snag just above the turf to help her pitcher out of the jam. Chappell notched a strikeout for the third out. Chappell finished with seven strikeouts while giving up just two hits and walking three over five innings.
The Lady Pioneers didn’t threaten again as the 10-run mercy rule went into effect after Westview recorded the final GC out in the top of the fifth for the 12-0 win.
In the Lady Chargers first at-bat, a pair of extra base hits produced three of the four runs. Hazelwood tripled to bring in a run and later scored. Norris knocked an inside the park homer to plate a pair of runs as Westview moved in front, 4-0.
The four Lady Charger seniors — Kelly Gaston, Shanna Chappell, Ashley Bynum and Jenna Hazelwood — were honored after the game, which was potentially the final home game of their high school careers. Westview could earn one more game at the Martin Recreation Complex if it wins the District 13-AA Tournament, as it would host its Region 7-AA semifinal. | | | | |
