Tuesday evening on a rain-soaked field, the church league women braved the dismal conditions and decided to play ball. Covenant versus Friendship the Baptist Church turned into a game of who could navigate the slippery patches, not so much who could base hit the ball.
Each team played with caution and Covenant edged Friendship for the win, 10-6.
After a rough first four innings, the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings are when Covenant finally dug its way out and found enough traction to climb into the lead for good. The Covenant ladies outscored their opponent 8-5 in the final three innings to cement the win. Nicole Collins, Kelsi Smith, and Tara Wood might have been the difference in the game. The three crossed the plate in the top of the seventh inning while great defense stymied the Friendship offense.
Friendship kept pace with Covenant until the sixth. That’s when Taylor Stoetzel hit a single and Tyke Martin blasted a double into the gap. Third and second were as far as the runners would get after the inning was marred with outs.
A three-run seventh inning was most definitely a key inning for Covenant in the 10-6 win.
It was a short first inning for both teams and Covenant went up to the plate in the top of the first and picked up back-to-back outs. A pair of walks to Sallie Alexander and Wood put runners at first and second but Covenant could not get it done in the first inning as the third out left the two runners stranded.
Friendship had slightly better success in the bottom of the first although the ladies followed the same path and picked up two quick outs. Breanna Richardson was first to find a hole in the defense for a single. Ali Hollandsworth jumped on a pitch for a double and Friendship had runners at second and third with two away. Talekia King singled and Breanna Richardson scored for a 1-0 lead just before the final out.
It was another short inning for Covenant after Makenzie Morgan singled up the middle for a base hit. The single was followed by a walk from Tonya Swan for all of the offense in the inning, Covenant trailed 1-0 after the third out.
It was another quick outing for Friendship even though the lead-off batter Coly Richardson made her way all the way around to third base. Rylee Ryan and Stoetzel also made their way on base with a pair of singles. Friendship was getting close but still came up empty after the final out ended the inning.
Covenant managed to rally its ladies and they claimed the lead in the top of the third. Tenara Martin and Alexander crossed the plate off hits by Kelly Slaughter and Worm Smith. It only took Covenant four singles and a walk to move into the lead by a score of 2-1. In the fourth inning, Taylor Swan legged out a double and after that it was a three up, three down inning for Covenant.
The Friendship offense spun its wheels during the third and fourth innings. A single, along with a walk, were not going to get it done against Covenant.
Covenant did a better job navigating the hazardous field conditions and went on to defeat Friendship by a final score of 10-6.
Covenant beats Friendship
