By By Matthew Nascone
The bottom of the seventh inning has not been kind to the Northview Lady Chiefs recently. Against Walton on Thursday a two-run home run defeated NHS and on Tuesday a passed ball with the bases loaded brought home the winning run for Woodham.
Assistant coach Stephanie Elowsky said the 6-4 loss to Walton was one of those games where the breaks didn't fall in the Lady Chiefs' favor.
"We hit the ball well, but we hit it right to people," Elowsky said.
NHS (8-5, 3-2 in Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2B District 1 play) had the lead going into the seventh inning, but couldn't hold on and allowed a five-run inning.
Elowsky said the Lady Chiefs scored three runs in the top of the seventh, but Walton charged back in the bottom of the inning and won on a two-run home run.
Caitlin Spence took the mound for NHS and recorded four strikeouts and one walk in the loss.
Stephanie Covan was 2-for-4 at the plate. Kayla Presley went 2-for-4 with one RBI. Nikki Crabtree was 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI.
Elowsky said the loss was disappointing, but the team is focused on winning their final district game against Catholic on April 7.
On March 28, the Lady Chiefs battled Woodham and lost 6-5.
"This was another frustrating loss," Elowsky said. "This game ended on a passed ball which brought in the winning run. We just couldn't close it out in the seventh."
The Lady Chiefs were leading 5-2 heading into the inning, but Elowsky said a couple of hits and a couple of walks did not help NHS. The final blow was struck on the passed ball.
Covan shone again at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a triple.
The Lady Chiefs' game against Jay on March 27 was a different story, as they won 16-6.
"We hit the ball really well that game," Elowsky said. "That was our best day of last week as far as hitting goes. We played well as a team that day."
Crabtree was 4-for-5 at the plate, Spence was a perfect 4-for-4 with seven RBI and Jill Kelly went 3-for-4 with two RBI.
Spence was also a force on the mound, striking out six batters and walking only two in the six inning, mercy rule shortened game.
Against Catholic on March 24 the Lady Chiefs won in decisive fashion again, 16-5. Elowsky said the team piled up 16 hits on its way to victory.
Meagan Pickern went 3-for-4 at the plate and was a home run shy of the cycle with a single, a double and a triple. She also grabbed five RBI. Spence was 1-for-2 with a triple and two RBI. Kelly was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Crabtree went 3-for-4 with a double.
On the mound, Spence had four strikeouts and one walk.
The Lady Chiefs won the battle of the border, 5-2, on March 21. The game pitted NHS against the Lady Blue Devils of Escambia County High School.
"It was a back and forth pitching duel until the sixth inning," Elowsky said. "We scored one in the sixth and four in the seventh to take the lead. And we were fortunate to hold them from beating us in the seventh."
Darbi Langhorne was 2-for-4 with a double and Presley went 2-for-3 at the plate.
The Lady Chiefs defend their home diamond against Central High School April 3 at 4 p.m.