Tough for Chase County to find win in week of games

    In seven varsity softball games last week, the Lady Longhorns found it difficult to pick up a win.
    Action last week took Chase County on the road to a double-header at Wray, Colo. Sept. 5 followed by five tournament games in Scottsbluff Friday and Saturday.
    While they were 0-7 for the week, Coach Denise Smith said  she continues to emphasize the positives.
    “We have had a lot of little successes I have to point out,” she said.
    Things such as a first double at the plate for a freshman player, a great outfield catch or consecutive put-outs at first.
    “We just have to string all those successes together during one game. They can see those things,” Smith said.
    The losses last week dropped Chase County’s record to 3-15.
Scottsbluff tourney
    Chase County lost its tournament opener to Chadron Friday, 1-15.
    Chadron found their bats in  the game, tallying 12 hits to five for Chase County in the shortened, three-inning game.
    Their only run in the game came in the third, when Lauren Gockley scored on an RBI single from Andrea Page.
    Also singling in the game were Gockley, Courtney Odens (2) and Ashlie Benge.
    Host Scottsbluff was up next for Chase County Friday, which handed the Lady Longhorns an 8-0 loss.
    Scottsbluff scored six of its runs in the first and second innings, but were held from any more scoring until the fifth, when two more runs ended the game after five innings.
    Chase County did not have a hit in the game. Coach Smith said her team did get a bat on the ball but too often hits went right to their defenders.
    Only two Lady Longhorns reached base in the game, both on walks.
    In Chase County’s nightcap Friday, they suffered a 1-11 loss in a four-inning contest to Gering.
    Gering put up eight hits in the game to Chase County’s two, but both of those hits earned extra bases as Gockley tripled and Vetter doubled. Vetter’s double scored the Lady Longhorns’ only run in the fourth.
    Gering players reached base on seven walks, while striking out at the plate once. Chase County batters struck out seven times in their 13 at-bats, and walked twice.
    On Saturday, Chase County faced Gothenburg and Alliance.
    Chase County took the 0-15 loss after three innings against Gothenburg.
    Gothenburg scored 11 of its runs in the second when they also tallied five of their seven hits and walked five times.
    Chase County’s three singles came from Page, Whitney Hopp and Valerie Herbert.
    In its final tournament game, Chase County scored its most runs of all five contests, although they lost to Alliance, 14-4 in four innings.
    Three of Chase County’s runs came in the fourth after a pair of walks and fielder’s choice put three on base. Gockley singled to score one, and their other two runs came on fielder’s choices.
    Riley Vrbas led the team at the plate with a double. Also credited with singles were Gockley, Page, Vetter and Sydnie Allen.
    Chase County had another tough second inning, when Alliance scored eight of its 14 runs.
    Sydney Vetter pitched all five varsity games for Chase County. Pitching stats were not available.
    Andrea Page was named to the all-tournament team following completion of play on Saturday.

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