By Thomas Grant Jr.
The Lexington softball team opened Region 4-5A play last Friday with a 13-0 shutout win in five innings over Chapin.
Payton Gonce had three hits and four RBI for the Lady Wildcats. This helped Lexington take a 9-0 lead into the fifth inning where Livi Warren belted a grand slam over the centerfield wall.
Haley Manz struck out four and allowed just four hits to pick up the victory.
The same night saw White Knoll give up a 3-run lead in a 13-12 loss to Dutch Fork.
The Lady Silver Foxes jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the Top 2nd. A 2-run double by Allie Royer and RBI single by Melinda Veler brought the Lady Timberwolves to within 5-2 in the Bottom 2nd.
White Knoll scored four runs in the Bottom 3rd to take a 6-5 lead. Two runners scored on an error, Jaden Ekovich had an RBI single and Royer put the Lady Timberwolves ahead with a sacrifice fly.
Dutch Fork tied the game again with a RBI fielder’s choice and regained the lead on an RBI single. After an RBI single by Mackenzi Bradley to tie the game, White Knoll took a 10-7 lead after three baserunners scored on a 3-run error.
The Lady Silver Foxes cut the deficit to 10-8 and White Knoll added a run in the Bottom 5th. Dutch Fork surged ahead with a 5-run rally in the Top 6th.
White Knoll had runners on first and second base in the Bottom 7th with one out. Bradley drove in a run with a fielder’s choice, but the game ended with a groundout.
In Class 4A, the Gilbert softball team is off to a 6-0 start in Region 4-4A. The Lady Indians have won those games by a 58-2 margin.
Last week opened with a 12-2 win in five innings over Aiken. Chloe Prien, Karlee Fitcher, and E.K. Jackson each drove in two runs and Carley Melton went 4-4 with an RBI.
Ainsley Minchew allowed no hits and struck out five in two innings for the win. A couple of nights later, she struck out nine and allowed no hits in a 16-0 win over South Aiken in three innings.
Minchew also went 2-3 with four RBI and Chanelle Adams hit a grand slam in the third inning.
This past Friday saw Minchew strike out 10 batters and drove in three runs in a 10-0 win in five innings over South Aiken.
Adams had a 3-run home run and Prien added two runs.
On Monday, the Lady Indians blanked Midland Valley 5-0. Prien drove in two runs and Minchew struck out 14 batters.
