Hometown Softball Program Game Recap For Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers

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Monday, April 15, 2013 | 2:52 PM


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In a game played on Saturday April 13th at Chartiers-Houston, the home standing Bucs improve to 10-0 overall and 7-0 in section 2 AA with a 7-6 win over the Waynesburg Raiders. They now have a game and a half lead over second place McGuffy who is 5-1,and a two game lead over Bentworth which is 5-2 in the section.

This game looked to be another easy one for the Bucs, and with a 6-0 lead in the 3rd inning and one of the top pitchers in the WPIAL on the mound in Kayla Briggs it seemed just  a matter of time until until they ran away with this game. In a previous meeting early in the season the Bucs beat the Raiders by a 10-0 score. But Wayneburg would not go away so lightly as the came all the way back to tie before the Bucs would win in the 7th.

Chartiers Houston scored 3 runs in the 1st inning on 2 walks a couple stolen bases, 2 ground out RBI, a double an error and a single. Eight batters came to the plate for the Bucs. Getting RBI's for the Bucs were Toni Spossey, Haley Sutton, and Casey Craig. They would get two more in the second on a walk, an RBI triple by Briggs,  and another Raider error. To lead off the third inning Casey Craig hit  aline drive HR over the center field fence to make the score 6-0 and seemingly an insurmountable lead.

Waynesburg was held hitless until the 4th inning when they would get a bunt single and an infield single. They wouldn't score in the 4th, but showed they could get to Briggs. She had struck out 5 and walked 4 batters before she gave up her first hit. Its a good thing the offense gave her a lead, because in the 5th thru 7th inning she was uncharacteristically wild.

In the top of the 5th the raiders with one out would get three straight big hits. A Taylor Staley double, a Jordan Moore double and a Tiffany Ross triple and it was 6-2.Briggs would walk a batter and with runners on 1st and third she would strike the next two batter out to end the inning. In the Waynesburg 6th inning the lead off hitter reached on an error, then a Hannah Gibbons single put 2 runners on. After a ground out and a walk the Bucs defense would make another error and it was 6-3. Another walk, and a double by Ross and it was 6-5. With runners on second and third and one out Briggs would again get two strikeouts top end the inning. But the Raiders were within a run.

For the Bucs in the bottom of the 6th inning Briggs led off with a single, Piper McGlauglin sacrificed her to second, but Briggs showing her speed took third easily beating the throw by the raider 1st baseman. Then on a tapper to the mound she was halfway down the line and took home on the throw to first. The Bucs scored an important insurance run  on a sacrifice and a ground out and incredible speed.

The Raiders were not done as Felicia Spitsnogel led off the top of the 7th with a triple, she scored on a Gibbons single and it was 7-6. Another single and a walk would load the bases and it looked like Briggs was in big trouble. But Moore struck out and Ross flew out to end the game. Briggs had gotten out of jams in three straight innings stranding 6 runners. Five big strikeouts and a fly out in a gutsy performance.

Brigs would get the win going 7 innings, giving up 6 runs on 10 hits. She struck out 11 and walked 7 batters. At bat she went 2 for 3 with a triple a single, 3 runs scored, and an RBI. Other stats for Buc players were as follows. McGlaughlin had 2 stolen bases, a single a walk and a run scored.Toni Spossey had an RBI and a single and a stolen base.  Haley Sutton a single and an RBI and a walk. Samantha Elliot had a double and a run scored. Craig would have the HR, a single,a run scored and 2 RBI. Finally Sabrina Stankus walked and scored.

It was another team effort for Chartiers Houston as the attempt to remain undefeated in AA. After winning the WPIAL championship in single A in 2012, they will attempt to repeat as Champions in a different class. When interviewed after the game Briggs would say " In AA the hitters are better, the pitchers are better as well, the competition is much better" Head coach Tricia Alderson when asked if she was worried at any time when Waynesburg came back if they would lose this game said "Not really, I'm used to these girls playing so well I wasn't worried. I knew Waynesburg was better than they were playing, we just had to regroup and hold them off."

The Bucs will continue on in section play as the travel to Washington on Tuesday April 16th to face the Prexies. With one month remaining in the season it looks like Chartiers Houston has another playoff contender on the softball diamond. Stay tuned for all of the Bucs playoff games on the MSA SPORTS NETWORTK.

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