Copper Basin’s Lady Cougar softball team took on Sale Creek Wednesday, May 10, looking to win the District 5-A championship. Sale Creek jumped ahead early and then held on to squeak out a 7-5 win over the gritty Lady Cougars.
The Lady Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, and added four more in the bottom of the third inning to build a 6-0 lead. The Lady Cougars responded in the top of the fourth inning, scoring four runs to cut into the Sale Creek lead. Back-to back one out walks by Angela Graves and Destiny Pittman, was followed by a Samantha Ware RBI single to get Copper Basin on the scoreboard. Kendra Deal singled to load the bases full of Lady Cougars and Riley Akens came through with a huge two-RBI double to left field to cut the lead in half, 6-3. Akens came home one batter later, as Taylee Hall singled to center field, trimming the Sale Creek lead even more, down to 6-4.
In the top of the fifth inning, Copper Basin inched even closer when Ware drilled a single to center field, scoring Graves to get the lead down to a single run, 6-5.
Sale Creek answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth, getting the lead back up to two runs, 7-5.
The Lady Cougars tried to get a rally going in the top of the seventh inning, but Sale Creek shut down the Basin bats, and escaping with a hard fought 7-5 win.
The loss isn’t the end of the season for the Lady Cougars however, as they will travel to South Pittsburg to take on the Lady Pirates in the first round of the TSSAA region tournament Monday, May 15.
Ware led the offense for Copper Basin, going 2-3 with two RBI’s. Taylee Hall went 2-3 as well, knocking in one RBI. Hyatt, Pittman, Deal, and Akens had one hit apiece for the Lady Cougars. Pittman went the distance in the pitcher’s circle, striking out one batter.
Scoring Summary:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 - Final
CBHS 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 - 5
SCHS 2 0 4 0 1 0 x - 7