Lady Rebels’ explode on offense to stay alive in state tournament

Published 5:15 pm Thursday, May 2, 2024

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The  Lady Rebels had a back-and-forth day on Thursday as Chambers Academy lost its opening game of the state tournament before staying alive with a win in the loser’s bracket. 

 

Game One: Chambers Academy – 3 Patrician Academy – 5

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The Lady Rebels struggled to steal the momentum in game one of the start tournament as Chambers Academy fell to Patrician Academy 5-3. 

The Rebels never led in the game as the Saints got the scoring started early on with three one-run singles in the bottom of the first inning. 

Chambers Academy rallied in the top of the second inning as Olivia Daughtrey scored on an error before Gabby Coleman drove in another run to cut the lead to just one. 

The Rebels tied things up at three as an error allowed Madison Stanford to score, but the team was able to produce very little at the plate from there. 

Patrician took the lead back in the bottom of the third inning on a one-run single before pushing the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth on another single. 

Chambers Academy had opportunities but could never come away with a big hit. The Rebels left three runners on base over the course of the last three half innings. 

Chambers Academy finished with six hits in the game. Allie Paschal led the way with two hits. Makayla Foster got the start in the circle, allowing eight hits and three earned runs and finishing with two strikeouts. Mary Riddle finished the game, allowing three hits in 2 ⅔ innings. 

 

Game Two: Rebels – 14 Pickens Academy – 8

 

Chambers Academy’s offense exploded to keep their season alive with a 14-8 win over Pickens Academy

The Rebels found their offense early in game two as Foster, Daughtrey and MaKenzie Gilliland each drove in a run with a double in the top of the first inning to help Chambers Academy jump out to a 3-0 lead. 

Pickens Academy quickly bounced back with three runs in the next half inning, but the Rebels were able to retake the lead in the top of the third. Gilliland drove in two runs with a home run over the center field fence before Riley Patterson drove in a run with a single to make it 6-3. 

The Pirates were tough to put away as they added two runs to cut into the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Chambers Academy added to its lead in the top of the fourth as Coleman drew a bases-loaded walk before Gilliland drove in another run with a single. Hadley Helleso capped off the inning as she drove in a run with a groundout to give the Rebels a 9-5 lead. 

Pickens Academy cut into the lead again in the bottom of the fourth with two more runs, but Chambers Academy all but sealed the game in the top of the fifth inning. 

Stanford scored on an error before Foster drove in another run with a single. Coleman capped off the inning with a three-run home run to make it 14-7. 

The Pirates fought back with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Pickens Academy had a chance to make some noise with runners on first and second to start the bottom of the sixth, but Helleso forced a fielder’s choice and a double play to get out of the jam. 

 

Foster led the way for the Rebels with four hits and two RBIs while Gilliland added three hits and four RBIs. Coleman added four RBIs with one hit. 

Thursday pushed the Rebels’ record to 18-27 on the season. Chambers Academy will face either Southern Academy or Edgewood Academy in an elimination game on Friday.