By Matt Turer — mturer@ky3.com
@MattTurer
Crocker, Mo. — The loudest softball team there ever was let out the biggest scream of the night when Bayli Calhoun’s bat smacked a district title clinching single into center field Friday night in Crocker.
Marla Chadwell crossed home, Norwood went up 12-2 and the Pirates celebrated by giving head coach Phillip Reed a Gatorade bath.
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“They did this to me last year and I learned to bring a change of clothes,” the soon-to-be-dry-clothed Reed said.
A championship-level move for the mid-40s temperatures.
Norwood went into the fifth with a 6-2 lead but used three singles, a double and two triples to drive home six runs and walk-off on the 10-run mercy rule.
“Last year, we played a Dora team that was pretty tough,” Reed said. “We pulled it out in the last inning. It was a nail-biter the whole game. This one feels really good to be able to come back and do it again in a good district. I think we played really well. I’ve got a bunch of kids who worked really really hard, and I’m just happy for them.”
Now, the Pirates (18-5) have payback in the batter’s box. They’ll face Van Buren (17-5) in the opening round of sectionals on Wednesday, the same team that eliminated them from last year’s tournament. But this year’s Pirates have a different swagger. Just talk to Melody Campbell.
“We’ve played [Van Buren] before and know we can beat them,” Campbell said.
Crocker went up, 1-0, in the second inning when Sadie Bomar drove home Maggie Fancher following Fancher’s leadoff double. That would be one of two runs allowed by Norwood starter Emily Chadwell, who gave up just three hits on the night for her 17th win of the season.
“Personally, as a pitcher, I didn’t feel like there was any worry [after the second inning],” Chadwell said. “Our hitting is very strong this year. We’re good one-through-nine.”
Melody Campbell gave Norwood a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second with a two-RBI triple. Campbell finished 3-4 with a run and three RBIs.
Norwood would tack on three more in the third on RBI triples by Calhoun and Chloe Crain. Crain scored three runs on Friday for Norwood. Calhoun added a second RBI in the fifth inning.
I could sense the girls were a little uptight early,” Reed said. “We got runners on and didn’t score right off the bat. They came in and were all hyped up. I told them to relax, take a breath and play their game. They did and that opened the floodgates. We’re a tough team, I like our chances.”
Norwood finished with 12 hits and every starter reached base.
“We all worked well together and had a great season,” Jenna Ogletree said. “We’re feeling pretty good. Pretty confident.”
