What began as a slugfest when both the ACGC and Woodward-Granger softball teams scored four runs in the first inning turned into a pitcher's duel and defensive battle over the final six innings of the game. In the end, the Chargers prevailed in a 6-4 win that completed the team's WCAC schedule.

Both teams flexed their offensive muscle in their first at bats in a display of hard hitting.

Jorja Hoover led things of with a single to right field, followed by Sierra O'Brien's single to left. After Mady Kelsey got on by error to load the bases, Genevieve Hoover's ground out to first scored Jorja from third.

Tori Fuller's fielder's choice drove in O'Brien for the second run of the inning. Jadeyn Carrick's deep double to center field scored both Kelsey and Tori to give the Chargers a solid 4-0 lead half way through inning number one.

Woodward-Granger rallied in its half of the inning to even things up at 4-4. Three Hawk hits, a base on balls, and two Charger errors enabled the home team to put four scores on the board.

After that the two teams settled in for a defensive battle and good pitching performances, especially by the Chargers' Savana Fuller. After the first inning Fuller allowed only TWO baserunners the remainder of the game--one on a single in the second inning and the other on a walk in the fourth. She retired twelve consecutive Hawk batters over the final four innings of the game, including five by strikeout. Her team's defense backed up the senior hurler by playing errorless ball after the first inning.

The Charger bats were not silent after the first inning, as the team came up with eight additional hits. Sound defensive play by the Hawks kept the game close. ACGC picked up a run in the fourth inning when Jorja Hoover was hit by a pitch and eventually came around to score to give the Chargers a 5-4 lead. A single by O'Brien and an infield hit by Kelsey loaded the bases with no outs. Tori Fuller's ground out to second allowed the younger Hoover to score to give the Chargers a one run lead.

ACGC got an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when Tori Fuller led things off with a single to right-center field. She advanced to second when sister Savana beat out a bunt for a hit. After an infield pop up and a strikeout, the Fuller sisters remained at first and second base. Jorja Hoover came through with a left field single that scored Tori to give the Chargers a 6-4 lead. Savana was thrown out at the plate as she tried to score on the same play. Still, the Chargers had a little cushion to work with with headed into the bottom of the seventh.

Savana completed her outstanding performance in the circle by putting down the Hawks in order to preserve the 6-4 win. Two well played ground balls by Charger shortstop Reese Coffman in the inning completed the win for the Chargers.

Overall this was a good performance by the black and gold--twelve hits, two first inning errors, and a stellar pitching performance. The win gives the team an overall record of 12-16 for the season, with a 7-13 record in the WCAC. The team is playing well as it prepares for post season tournament play. One final regular season game remains, as the team travels to Mondamin to face West Harrison tomorrow. West Harrison is ranked eleventh in class 1A with a season record of 25-2. Its last loss was in mid-June when it lost to our Chargers,11-6, in the Audubon tournament. This will be a good test for ACGC, with regional tournament play beginning on Monday. The varsity game at West Harrison will be played first at 5:30 PM with the JV game to follow. Go Chargers!

Game score by inning:

ACGC 400 100 1--6 12 2

W-G 400 000 0--4 3 2

Charger box score

AB R H RBI

JHoover 3 2 2 1

SiO'Brien 4 1 2 0

Kelsey 4 1 2 0

KeYoung 0 0 0 0

GHoover 4 0 0 1

TFuller 4 2 1 2

SFuller 4 0 1 0

Carrick 4 0 2 2

KyYoung 3 0 2 0

Coffman 3 0 0 0

Dorsey 1 0 0 0

Pitching: IP R H SO BB

SFuller 7 4 4 8 2