The Chagrin Falls softball team jumped out early and never fully let go, fending off a late surge from Kirtland to secure a 7-5 win.
After building a six-run cushion through two innings, the Tigers leaned on pitcher Scarlett Beech to close the door, as she racked up 13 strikeouts in a complete-game effort.
Chagrin Falls wasted little time getting on the board in the first. With two outs, Zoe Thompson sparked the rally with a single and a stolen base before Lauren Eickhoff delivered an RBI hit. Chloe Nightwine followed with a double to plate another run and make it 2-0.
The Tigers broke things open in the second. Beech worked a leadoff walk, and Gina Ponikvar and Reece De Leon followed with key hits, including De Leon’s RBI double. Ally Johnson reached on an error that brought in two runs, and Thompson added another RBI single to cap a four-run inning and push the lead to 6-0.
Kirtland chipped away in the third when Abela Delgado singled, stole second, and scored on Maggie Kothera‘s RBI hit, cutting the deficit to 6-1.
Chagrin Falls answered in the fourth, loading the bases with no outs on walks by Johnson, Thompson, and Eickhoff. Kirtland pitcher Delgado recorded a strikeout to limit damage, but Harper Stewart drew a walk to force in a run and extend the lead to 7-1.
Kirtland made its push in the fifth.
Gia DiRenzo led off with a single and moved to third on a hit from Kothera. Alivia Mason reached on an error to bring in a run, and Riley Kinch followed with an RBI double. Mason later scored on a groundout by Julia Cottrell, and Kinch crossed on a wild pitch to pull the Hornets within 7-5.
But that was as close as it would get.
Beech settled back in and shut down the rally over the final two innings, finishing with 13 strikeouts while allowing just two earned runs on six hits.
Chagrin Falls’ offense was balanced throughout. Thompson went 2-for-2 with a run, RBI, and two walks, while De Leon doubled and drove in a run. Eickhoff and Nightwine each added RBIs, and Johnson accounted for two runs driven in.
For Kirtland, Kothera led the way with two hits and an RBI, while Kinch added a double and an RBI in the fifth-inning rally.
Top Players
- Scarlett Beech (Chagrin Falls): 7 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 13 K
- Zoe Thompson (Chagrin Falls): 2-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB
- Maggie Kothera (Kirtland): 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI
- Riley Kinch (Kirtland): 1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2B
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