Chamblee’s Rachel Axelson (75) makes a throw to Savannah Russell (center) to get Coffee runner Saniya Hill (8) out at first during Chamblee’s opening game win in the two teams Class 5A best-of-three series. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Chamblee Bulldogs made program history on Tuesday advancing to the girls’ fast-pitch softball state playoffs Elite 8 round with a 16-3, 10-2 sweep of the Coffee Trojans in a Class 5A second round series at Chamblee.
Coffee (15-15) got out in front in the first game with a leadoff walk to Hannah Capps who would steal second and end up scoring on a wild pitch to make it a 1-0 lead which would hold until the bottom of the second.
The first six Bulldog batters would reach to start the bottom of the second as they struck for six runs to go up 6-1. Parker Smith’s slap towards first base ended up tying the game at 1-1 and Smith would reach as the first baseman tried to throw home to get the runner, but the throw was late.
Rachel Axelson hit a double down the right field line with the bases loaded to score two runs and her sister Margaret Axelson added a RBI double in the six-run outburst.
Coffee cut the lead in half with back-to-back RBI singles by Jenna Graham and Emily Elisis to cut the deficit to 6-3 in the top of the third.
The Axelson’s teamed up to key a five-run third inning as Rachel hit into a ground out to score one run and after a Coffee error Margaret hit a line shot that a diving Coffee leftfielder could not get to that went for a triple and drove in two more runs. Kate Sarago closed out the inning with a RBI single to up the lead to 11-3 heading to the fourth inning.
Lily McCord set the Trojans down in order in the top of fourth as she would finish the game with seven strikeouts and allowing just three hits and one walk in four innings.
A two-out triple in the bottom of the fourth by Emily Katz followed by a Coffee error on a ball hit by Samantha Russell opened the gates to a six-run inning to close out the game by the run-rule. Margaret Axelson hit a RBI single and Sarago drilled a two-run single to center to end the game with a final score of 16-3.
Leading the best-of-three series 1-0, Chamblee coach Alan Loper turned to senior pitching ace Margaret Axelson who would strike out 11 in a 10-2 win to clinch the series.
Coffee went to Erin Robinson who struck out three in the first inning and seven overall in 2 2/3 innings before an injury to her leg caused her to leave the game in the third.
Emily Elisis hit a home run to center to give Coffee another 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Robinson held Chamblee scoreless until a wild pitch allowed Russell to score from third to tie the game and Robinson went down with the injury that would force her out of the game.
Margaret Axelson pitches against Coffee in a 10-2 series clinching win. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The score remained 1-1 through four innings as Axelson would collect all 11 of her strikeouts in the first four innings.
Lydia Davis led off the top of the fifth with a double and scored on Margaret Axelson’s ground out with the bases loaded to give Chamblee a 2-1 lead.
Hanna Hutchinson knotted the game against Axelson with a RBI single into center with just one out in the inning. Chamblee second baseman made two big plays on the next two batters fielding a ground ball at first base and a pop out to keep the game knotted at 2-2 heading into the sixth.
Chamblee closed out the game with eight runs in the top of the sixth. Lily McCord got the rally started with an opposite field RBI single. Davis had a bunt single, and Russell followed with a double in the gap in left field to score two runs as the lead was built upon.
A bases loaded walk to Margaret Axelson and a bases loaded hit by the pitch on Sarago along with a two-out RBI single by Parker Smith sent Chamblee into the bottom of the ninth up 10-2.
Axelson allowed a leadoff hit in the fourth but got three fly balls to end the game and start the celebration of the playoff victory. Chamblee has doubled their playoff wins this season with 4 having lost their last six playoff games (3 series) to improve to 8-24 overall.
Chamblee added two wins to their already record for season wins as the team improved to 29-2 on the year.
Chamblee advances to the Class 5A State Tournament in Columbus on October 28 against the winner of the Eastside/Northside-Columbus series which is going to a third game. Northside won the first game 3-2 and Eastside rebounded with an 11-10 victory to even the series.