The Norwood Lady Pirates could muster only one hit against the Reeds Spring Lady Wolves Monday afternoon in Reeds Spring. But one hit would be enough.
Norwood combined their lone hit with seven walks and three hit batsmen, from the Lady Wolf pitching staff, to edge Reeds Spring 5-4. The victory upped the Pirates mark to 8-3 on the season. The Wolves dropped to 6-4.
“We took advantage of some of their early misques to jump out in front 3-0. But they came back over the final three innings to almost get the win,” said Norwood head coach Phillip Reed. “I knew they’d make a run though. Coach Walker does an excellent job with his kids and they’re really a very good team. But our kids did a great job of handling the pressure, at the end of the game, to hold on for the victory.”
PHOTOS: REEDS SPRING VS. NORWOOD
The Lady Wolves had problems finding the strike zone as the game got underway. Lady Pirate leadoff hitter Melody Campbell found her way to first base via a walk. Two batters later Jenna Ogletree took first after being hit by a pitch. Emma McIntosh then took four pitches for a free pass to load the bases for Norwood High.
Norwood right fielder Emma Nelson, up next, was then struck by a pitch and was awarded first base sending Campbell home from third to put the Lady Pirates out in front 1-0. But Norwood High wasn’t through yet.
With two outs PIrate third baseman, Megan Campbell, drove a ball to the left side of the infield that the Wolves couldn’t handle to push Ogletree and McIntosh across the plate to give Norwood a 3-0 lead.
The Pirates would add two more runs in the top of the fifth for a 5-0 lead, a lead that appeared to be insurmountable.
But the Lady Wolves were very much alive. Third baseman Mackenzie Duvall got Reeds Spring back in the game by taking an Emily Chadwell pitch over the center-field wall to get her Lady Wolves on the board and back in the game.
“At the time it was a huge shot for us. It got us back in the game,” said Reeds Spring head coach Scott Walker. “MacKenzie is a great kid and she works very hard. It was really fitting that she got us so fired up.”
Reeds Spring added another pair of runs in the sixth inning, off hits from Izzy Erickson (triple), Allie Dickerson (double) and Hannah Erickson’s single to pull within two of the Pirates 5-3.
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The Pirates were able to escape a huge Lady Wolves rally on a sterling defensive play from right fielder Emma Nelson in the inning.
Nelson hauled in a drive to right field for the second out of the inning then fired the ball to her cutoff, who just happened to be Emily Chadwell. Chadwell whirled and fired the ball to her third baseman, Megan Campbell, to catch a Lady Wolf runner off base to get the Pirates out of the inning.
Reeds Spring scored one more in the seventh before falling 5-4 to the Pirates. Courtney Scobee and Dusty Welch each collected hits in the inning.
Chadwell, in the victory, picked up her eighth win of the season. The hard throwing right hander gave up four runs, two earned, on nine hits. She registered one strikeout and allowed one free pass.
“This was a great win for us today. We don’t play as individuals, we play as a team,” said Chadwell. “We came out and competed today, this one really feels good.”
Chadwell was especially pleased with the way her team played defense behind her.
“I’m not a strikeout pitcher. If I hit my spots and they hit the ball I know my team will make the play,” Chadwell said. “They always have my back. It’s a great filling going out to pitch knowing that I’m not out there by myself.”
Reeds Spring head coach Scott Walker was proud of the way his girls fought back, even in a losing effort.
“We were able to come back a bit,” Walker said. “But you just can’t wait that long against a good team like Norwood. But the kids kept battling and I’m very proud of the way they hung in until the final out of the game.”
Norwood will take on Houston at home Tuesday night while Reeds Spring will traveling to Aurora.          Â
Box Score
                               1   2  3    4   5   6   7    F
Norwood          3   0  0   0   2   0   0    5
Reeds Spring       0   0  0   0   1   2   1    4
Leading Hitters:
Norwood;Â Marla Chadwell – double.
Reeds Spring; Allie Dickerson 3-4 (double), Hannah Erickson 1-4, MacKenzie Duball 1-3 (HR), Courtney Scobee 3-4 (double), Dusty Welch 4-4, Abby Rudd 1-2.
