South Greene and Chuckey-Doak softball teams held their annual “Pink Out” game on Tuesday afternoon in Lower Afton to support breast cancer awareness. The contest was full of fun, support, and lots of action as South Greene topped Chuckey-Doak, 12-6, at the conclusion.
“It really means a lot. It’s really important that we play this game. It means a lot to both teams,” South Greene head coach Amy Hawk expressed.
It was a special day for many. Both teams met at home plate before the game began and took a photo with all cancer patients and survivors in attendance. The teams wore special custom pink jerseys for the event. The ticket sales and proceeds were donated to charity.
Chuckey-Doak Head Coach Tim Armstrong, a two-time cancer survivor himself, explained the importance and significance of this game. “I get excited for this game. Praise God that I’m still able to come out here and do this and be around all these survivors. That was a fantastic turnout. It brings awareness to cancer. It’s a battle, but it’s a battle that can be won.”
The Lady Rebels started red hot, cooled off and let Chuckey-Doak take control, before finishing hot in the last three innings to pick up the win.
South Greene jumped ahead 3-0 in the first before Chuckey-Doak tied it 3-3 in the fourth. South Greene scored nine-straight to put the ballgame out of reach in the final three innings. Chuckey-Doak did make a small dent in the lead with three runs in the seventh and left two on base to end the game, but there was not enough time left to mount a comeback.
“The girls like to keep it close and just break it open in the end,” Coach Hawk joked. “I feel like we were pretty solid on defense. There was one inning where we made some mistakes. I fussed at them a little bit and told them we were better than that on defense. Chuckey-Doak had some good plays and good hits. They have a good team too. I don’t ever get comfortable when we’re playing them.”
The top of South Greene’s lineup showed out. Whitney Reaves went 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot with two RBIs and three runs. Kortnei Bailey went 3-for-4 in the two-hole spot with an RBI, a run, and a walk. Hailey Williamson was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs in the cleanup spot. Neveah Davis was a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs in the six spot.
“The top of the lineup has been getting on base and performing when we needed them to. I think the bottom of the lineup started getting on base too,” Coach Hawk mentioned.
Chuckey-Doak’s key performers started with Jayden Myers. The sophomore shortstop went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs and multiple defensive saves. Paylin Shelton also had a multi-hit day and went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Hayleigh Seidl and Aryel Mitchell delivered two RBIs each.
South Greene remained perfect in District 1-2A with the win and improved to 4-0. Chuckey-Doak dropped to 2-5 in conference play after the loss. The Lady Rebels improved to 7-1 overall and the Lady Knights dropped to 4-12 overall.
The Lady Rebels started with a bang and singled in back-to-back at bats to begin the game. Reaves and Bailey stood on the corners. Paisley Brobeck flew into a sacrifice fly and scored Reaves to strike first with a 1-0 lead. Williamson singled next and scored Bailey to go up 2-0. Davis collected her first of four hits in the first and had an RBI attached to it, scoring Williamson. South Greene quickly led 3-0 before Chuckey-Doak had the chance to bat.
The score remained 3-0 as both starters, Kortnei Bailey and Elizabeth Manuel, dueled it out and kept both offenses in check.
Chuckey-Doak finally heated up in the bottom of the fourth. Myers led off with a single. The next two batters would strikeout and fly out. The Lady Knights did all of the ensuing damage with two outs. Elizabeth Manuel walked next. Paylin Shelton delivered an RBI-single to score Myers. Aryel Mitchell tied the game with a huge two-RBI double next, scoring both Manuel and Shelton.
South Greene immediately regained control of the lead with a two-run inning in the fifth. Reagan Arrowood walked, Reaves singled, and Bailey walked to load the bases. Brobeck hit a fly ball to the outfield and watched it drop out of the defender’s glove and everybody advanced. Arrowood scored to take a 4-3 lead. Williamson flew into a sacrifice fly next and Reaves tagged up to score.
The Lady Rebels led 5-3 and added more in the sixth. The bases loaded up with Davis and Macy Roberts hitting singles and Heidi Dean was hit by a pitch. Reaves singled to score Davis. Bailey cleared the bases with a two-RBI single that scored Dean and Reaves.
South Greene led 8-3 and wasn’t done yet. They plated four more in the seventh. Williamson and Sadie Knowles singled. Davis delivered an RBI-single and scored Williamson. Roberts reached base on an error and Knowles scored on it. Reaves grounded into a fielder’s choice and Davis reached home plate safely. Bailey ended the scoring with another two-run hit, this time a double.
South Greene led 12-3 before Chuckey-Doak cut into it. Elizabeth Shelton’s single scored Hayden Kenney. Hayleigh Seidl provided a two-RBI single to score Madison Miller and Jayden Myers.
The Lady Knights ran out of time as South Greene finished on top, 12-6.
South Greene hosts Unicoi County next on Thursday in another big District 1-2A matchup. Chuckey-Doak travels to Elizabethton on Thursday.
