Chamblee senior Kate Sarago collects one of her four hits on the day against Creekview in the Class 5A state playoffs second round. Chamblee fell two games to none in the best-of-three series. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Chamblee Lady Bulldogs let a 1-0 lead slip away in the sixth inning of the opening game on the way to dropping both games by a score of 6-1 to the highly ranked Creekview Grizzlies in the second round of the Class 5A fastpitch softball state playoffs at Chamblee.
Chamblee (24-7) grabbed the 1-0 lead in a pitching duel between the Bulldogs’ Gali Nelson and Creekview’s Jesse Roland in the bottom of the third inning. Kate Sarago scored from third on an infield single by Elena Smith.
The score remained 1-0 until the top of the sixth inning when Kate English doubled down the left field line to score Lili Beal to knot the game at 1-1. A Bulldog error opened the door for a sacrifice fly by AK Turner to give Creekview the lead.
Another two-out error scored two runs in the top of the seventh for Creekview and then a two-run home by Ady Counts to up the lead to 6-1.
Roland got her ninth and 10th strikeout of the game in the bottom of the seventh before getting a fly ball to end the game.
Kate Sarago was 2-4 and Elena Smith went 2-3 to lead the Bulldogs at the plate. Nelson gave up five unearned runs while striking out nine and walking just one in seven innings of work.
Game 2 – Creekview 6, Chamblee 1
Creekview jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings on the way to a 6-1 win in game two at Chamblee to close out the best-of-three series two games to none against Chamblee.
Leading 1-0 on another unearned run, the Grizzlies added three more unearned in the second on a three-run homer by Lile Beal to go up 4-0.
Chamblee got on the board in the top of the fourth on a single up the middle by Elena Smith scoring Madi Jones who had doubled to lead off the inning. Creekview got out of the inning with a double play to end the scoring threat. Chamblee would get just one hit the rest of the way.
The Bulldogs had just five hits in the game led by senior Kate Sarago with a 2-3 performance at the plate to finish 4-7 on the day.
DCSD SOFTBALL STATE PLAYOFF RESULTS
Tuesday, Oct. 22
CLASS 2A SECOND ROUND
Miller Grove (18-2) 9, Thomson (10-11) 1
Miller Grove (19-2) 11, Thomson (10-12) 1
Miller Grove wins series 2-0
Thursday, Oct. 24
CLASS 5A SECOND ROUND
Creekview (20-8) 6, Chamblee (24-6) 1
Creekview (21-8) 6, Chamblee (24-7) 1
Creekview wins series 2-0
DCSD SOFTBALL STATE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Oct. 30
CLASS 2A STATE TOURNAMENT
SOUTH COMMONS SOFTBALL COMPLEX – FIELD 5
Miller Grove (19-2) vs. Stephens Co. (21-6), 11:00 am