SOFTBALL: Chambersburg solid in all areas in win over Cedar Cliff
FAYETTEVILLE >> After losing three games in a row – all against division opponents – Chambersburg's softball team was looking to rebound on Tuesday.
In their most complete game of the season, the Trojans did just that, handing Cedar Cliff a 7-0 Mid Penn Commonwealth Division defeat at Norlo Park.
"It's exactly what we're capable of," Chambersburg co-coach Ted Bittinger said. "It really makes a difference when the whole team is on track. It's fun to watch."
The Trojans (3-3, 2-3 MPC) opened things up right away with a four-run first inning. Caeley Etter started things off with a walk and stole second. Chelsea Sommerville then followed with an RBI single right past the second baseman. After a fielder's choice, Tara Harmon walked and stole second to put runners on second and third, and Alexis Shearer brought them both in with a two-run double to deep leftfield. Leah Hunt then followed with an RBI single to give Chambersburg a quick 4-0 lead.
"I think we've really started to come together as a team," Etter said. "When we put the ball in play, good things can happen, and they did today."
Etter started another rally in the bottom of the fourth. After a pair of strikeouts to start the inning, Etter rocketed a line drive into rightfield that went under the outfielder's glove, putting Etter on third. Sommerville, who finished 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs, scored Etter with a single and then scored on a Lily Nolan double to push the lead to 6-0.
Etter terrorized the Colts (4-3, 2-3 MPC) all day. She finished 2-for-2, reached base all four times, scored two runs and stole four bases for Chambersburg.
"I think Chelsea and I work very well together," Etter said. "Her slapping helps move me around the bases, and I'm always trying to use my speed to create problems for the defense."
Bittinger said, "Caeley did a great job today. I think she's really starting to come into her comfort zone at the top of the lineup."
The Trojans pushed the lead to 7-0 when Hunt hit a double and scored on an error, and the rest of the game belonged to starting pitcher Laken Myers.
She worked through a pair of two-out jams, but otherwise cruised through Cedar Cliff's lineup. She tossed a five-hit shutout, giving up just one walk while striking out five.
"I used all of my pitches, and I really thought they were working well," Myers said. "I was just trying to keep the hitters off balance and throw strikes, and the offense did a great job of giving me some runs to work with."
Bittinger said, "Laken was super today. It seemed like everything was working for her, and she did a great job as a sophomore of stepping up and pitching well in a big game."
Hunt finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored for Chambersburg, and Shearer finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and two driven in. Tiffany White pitched a complete game for the Colts – striking out seven – and went 2-for-3 at the plate. The Trojans played error free for just the second time this season.
"We've been struggling with errors lately, but we were able to relax today and have fun," Etter said. "I think that's going to be the biggest thing to our success."
NOTES >> Chambersburg's 1-6 hitters combined to go 9-for-18 from the plate, but it's 7-9 hitters went 0-for-9 with five strikeouts ... Myers had three 1-2-3 innings, while the Trojans didn't go down in order in any inning.
Chambersburg 7, Cedar Cliff 0
Cedar CliffChambersburgabrhbabrhbKeefer 3b2000Etter lf2220Jordan 1b3000Smrvlle 2b4222Walker cf3000Nolan c3011White p3020Ovrcsh ph1000Midgrdn ss3000Harmon 3b2110Enrico dp3000Shearer cf3112Spngnbrg lf3010Hunt dp3121DeKlinski c2000Myers p2000Meashy ph1000Brkhldr ph1000Showers rf1000Bender 1b2000Wenrck ph2010Kump ph1000Keffer 2b0000Kaffmn rf2000Kemp ph1000Glunt ss0000Totals26059Totals27796
Cedar Cliff0000000—0Chambersburg400210x—0
E: CC 3; LOB: CC 6, Chbg 5; 2B: Shearer, Hunt, Nolan; SB: Etter 4, Harmon,
Cedar Cliff pitching
Chambersburg pitching
WP: White 2, Myers; PB: Nolan.
T: 1:42.