Longhorn softball team gets win over Hershey

    It was a short week of school, but last week felt like a long one for the Chase County softball team.
    CCS Head Coach Denise Smith said it was a hot, tough week for her team with away games Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
    Despite Labor Day followed by teacher in-service Tuesday, CCS athletes still had activities Tuesday. This included a softball doubleheader at Wray, Colorado.
    Smith said the Longhorns struggled with communication in the games.
    Jesusita Ruiz and Hailey Markee both singled in the game, but CCS stranded five runners, including two on third, in the 0-10 loss.
    Jaiden Hill pitched, giving up 10 hits and two walks while striking out four. CCS had seven errors.
    The Longhorns’ batting improved in the second game. Ruiz doubled in the first inning when CCS scored four runs.
    Wray responded with 16 runs in the first inning, but was held to five runs in the remainder of the game.
    Kayla Chavira started the second game against Wray and Hill came on in relief in the first inning.
    Markee singled and Ruiz hit another double in the third inning and two Longhorns were hit by pitches. CCS scored five in the third inning in the 9-21 loss.
    Last Thursday the Longhorns were off to Hershey.
    Smith said the Panthers’ pitchers were hittable and CCS had its chances to win game one.
    The Longhorns only managed three hits to Hershey’s 12 hits in the game and CCS left nine batters stranded. Six were stranded on second or third.
    Chase County had four errors in the fourth inning, allowing Hershey to score five runs. CCS lost 5-10 in seven innings.
    Smith said Hill kept CCS in the game. The junior struck out seven and walked three.
    CCS won game two 10-8.
    Lead off hitter Kathya Aragon walked and scored in the first inning. Hershey bounced back to take a 3-1 lead by the end of the third inning.
    The Longhorns tied the game with runs by Markenna Terryberry and Markee in the third inning. Krista Meeske singled for an RBI.
    Ruiz, Jasmine Johnson, Markee and Ella O’Neil singled in the fourth inning to help give CCS a 7-4 lead.
    Terryberry walked and scored in the fifth and Meeske singled and scored in the sixth to help CCS hang on for the win.
    CCS found success against Hershey’s second pitcher and had six hits in the game.
    Smith said it was nice to see the base hits and she said the defense cut down its errors.
    Hill pitched all seven innings, striking out three and walking six. Hershey had eight hits.
    CCS wrapped up its week Saturday at Gothenburg with a JV/varsity doubleheader.
    The Longhorns JVs lost the opener 0-6 with Hill pitching.
    Hill was on the mound once more for the varsity game, which CCS lost 0-10.
    Annika McDaniel and Terryberry singled in the varsity game.
    Hill didn’t allow any walks in the game and didn’t have any strikeouts.
    Smith said Gothenburg’s seven hits were “smoked into gaps.” CCS had four errors.
    With Chavira being injured and unable to pitch for extended innings, Hill stepped up to pitch 29.1 innings over the course of the six games.
Up next
    CCS played a doubleheader against  15-3 Gering Tuesday.
    Thursday the Longhorns host 4-8 Chadron. Chadron has usually played only one game when they travel to Imperial, but this year will play a doubleheader. First pitch will be at 3:30 p.m.