Mt. Hermon’s Lady Jackets scored 12 runs in the first inning, on their way to a 20-2 win over Varnado in three innings at the old Angie Jr. High School site.
Khristian Schexnider, who went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored, led off the game by reaching on a two-base error and then got to third on a miscue. Walks to Tiffany Blades and Kalei Hughes loaded the bases.
Joley Fortenberry, who had a walk and two runs scored, picked up an RBI on a fielder’s choice with Schexnider tallying the first run as the throw went to first. Fortenberry reached on a throwing error and Blades scored on the miscue to make it 2-0.
Alexis Alford walked to reload the bases. RBI walks to Alysa Barber, Macey Applegate and Madison Applegate plated Hughes, Fortenberry and Alford to make it 5-0. Isabella Alford then reached on a fielder’s choice error. Barber scored on the play and Macey Applegate and Madison Applegate also crossed the plate on the miscue for an 8-0 game.
Schexnider hit an RBI single that sent Isabella Alford home. Blades, who walked in all four of her plate appearances and scored three runs, walked. Hughes hit a two-run single that sent Schexnider and Blades home and it was 11-0. Fortenberry walked and later scored on Barber’s RBI single and Mt. Hermon was up 12-0 after one inning.
The Lady Jackets scored three runs in the second. With one out, Raygen Hart was hit by a pitch, and Ansley Knight walked. Schexnider sent both to the plate with a two-run double and Schexnider scored on an error during the play to make it 15-0.
Varnado got on the board in the bottom of the inning.
Jayla Peters reached on a third-strike wild pitch, stole second and went to third on a groundout to the pitcher. Peters scored when Morgan Paige reached on an error.
Mt. Hermon added five more runs in the third.
Macey Applegate, Hart and Knight walked to fill the bases. With one out, Blades, Jadyn Stafford and Chelsea Citynes drove in Macey Applegate, Hart and Alford with RBI walks. Mia Crosley sent Blades home after being hit by a pitch to make it 19-1. Macey Applegate’s RBI single plated Stafford for a 20-1 game.
Blades was the winning pitcher. She threw the three innings and did not allow a hit. Blades allowed one earned run, struck out seven and did not walk anybody. Blades had the unusual feat of striking out four hitters in the second inning. One of the players that struck out reached on a third-strike wild pitch.
Mt. Hermon coach Barbara Kerbow said her team knows Varnado has a young team and they respect them.
“They know Varnado is a young team,” Kerbow said. “Our girls respect Varnado and I look forward to seeing them when they come to our place. Both teams have strengths and both have weaknesses.”
Varnado added one more run in the third. Arian Foster was hit. Foster stole second and third before scoring on a wild pitch to cap the scoring at 20-2.
“We have a lot of young players,” Varnado coach Karen Borden said. “This is the first time we’ve had this many players with this much interest and this much energy. Last year, I ended the season with eight players.
“We played our last two games with eight players, so to have 29 young ones who can learn — none of them have ever played association ball and none of them have ever been on a softball field until about a month ago. I’m thinking that in a couple of years, we’re going to see some fruit from this team. I think this is going to be the basis of a good program. I think this is the building team.”