Chaffee rallies late to advance in softball districts

ORAN, Mo. -- Chaffee senior Hannah Bedwell came up clutch right when the Reds Devils needed it Wednesday.

Bedwell kicked off a fifth-inning rally by hitting a shot to left field to score Sierra Miller from second before crossing the plate herself for the game winner in what ended up being a 5-1 victory over Van Buren in a Class 1 District 1 quarterfinal softball game.

"It's not a surprise," Chaffee coach Shawn Powderly said. "She's been doing that for us for four years. Good for her to step up again. She usually does it for us."

The two-run fifth inning and three-run sixth more than made up for a frustrating start for Chaffee.

The Red Devils saw their chance to jump out early come and go after getting runners on in three of the first four innings.

Chaffee starting pitcher Montana Estes, left, throws out Van Buren base runner Jaysa Jenkins during the sixth inning Wednesday in Oran, Mo. (BRENT SHIPMAN ~ Sikeston Standard Democrat)

Chaffee loaded the bases in both the first and third innings, but a strikeout in the first and a pop up followed by a ground out in the third left the Red Devils empty-handed.

The situation became urgent when the Bulldogs pushed across their lone run in the top of the third when Jessica Fisher led off frame with a base hit before a Brittany Hager doubled over the left fielder to score Hager.

After the Red Devils stranded Hailey Enderle on third to end the fourth, their offense sparked to save their season.

Chaffee added three runs on three hits and two hit batters to give themselves a little breathing room in the sixth.

"We started off really slow today," Bedwell said. "We should have jumped on this team early and gotten out in three innings, but we were able to pick it back up and come out with a win. Right now that's all that matters."

Chaffee´s Maria Smith sprints to the edge of the infield to catch a pop fly during Wednesday's Class 1 District 1 quarterfinal in Oran, Mo. (BRENT SHIPMAN ~ Sikeston Standard Democrat)

Montana Estes went all seven innings for the Red Devils to earn the win. She struck out six and walked one. She retired the final five batters in order to secure the win.

Miller and Maria Smith both went 2 for 3 to lead Chaffee.

"I got hurt last Thursday, so it was the first time I had swung a bat in a week," Miller said. "I was pretty nervous when I got up to bat. I was a little shaky at first, but I knew I could do it."

Chaffee will face host Oran at 4 p.m. today.

"All of our players know all of theirs and vice versa," Powderly said. "Everybody knows what to expect. It's just going to come down to who can come out and execute the best.

"Whether it's getting bunts down, throwing strikes or not giving up extra bases, it's the little things that going to win tomorrow."

Van Buren 001 000 0 -- 1

Chaffee 000 023 x -- 5

WP -- Montana Estes. LP -- Haley Burnham. 3B -- Sierra Miller (C). 2B -- Brittany Hager (V), Hailey Enderle (C). Multiple hits -- Van Buren: Hager 2-3, Jessica Fisher 2-3; Chaffee: Maria Smith 2-3.