CCS softball picks up win over Yuma

    After a COVID-ravaged season in 2020 which saw Colorado teams not on the Chase County softball schedule, the Longhorns made the most of Yuma’s return to the schedule Aug. 27.
    CCS got its first win since 2019 with a 10-2 victory over the Indians.
    Junior Jaiden Hill and Chase County’s defense held Yuma scoreless for four innings. CCS was helped by a third-inning double play. With the bases loaded, senior Ella O’Neil snagged a Yuma line drive and tossed the ball to freshman Jasmine Johnson at third base for the inning’s second and third outs.
    Yuma pitchers struggled throughout the game. The Longhorns scored five runs in the first inning, but only had one hit, a single by Hailey Markee.
    Jesusita Ruiz singled and scored in the second inning for CCS. Johnson stole two bases and scored in the third inning.
    Back-to-back singles drove in  a Yuma run in the fifth inning and the Indians added a second run in the sixth.
    Walks by Markee and Krista Meeske set them up to score on a double by Johnson. Johnson scored on a passed ball to end the game.
    Hill struck out 13 in the complete-game win, while giving up four walks and four hits.
    The teams went on to play two innings with JV players. CCS came out on top 12-11 with Kayla Chavira on the mound for the Longhorns. Getting hits for Chase County were Alejandra Castillo, Aurora Griebel and Kathya Aragon.
Season begins at triangular
    The team traveled to Stamford Aug. 24 to open its season against Southern Valley/Alma and Minden.
    CCS fell in its opening game against Southern Valley/Alma 0-16. Longhorn Head Coach Denise Smith said the hot weather was a factor, especially for starting pitcher Chavira.
    Southern Valley/Alma batted around in the first inning and scored 10 runs, but only had three hits.
    Chavira and Hill each struck out a batter in the second inning and combined to give up a hit each.
    The Longhorns had 11 at-bats in the game, striking out four times. Aragon and Johnson each reached base on walks.
    Facing Minden it the second game of the day, O’Neil walked and scored in the first inning. The Longhorns loaded the bases, but couldn’t bring any more runners across home plate.
    Three hits helped Minden score four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
    Markee singled, but was stranded on second base in the second inning.
    Minden added two runs in the second inning, but a strikeout and fly out ended its threat with the bases loaded.
    Four Longhorns put the ball in play in the third inning. None could advance past second base, however.
    After sitting down the side in the bottom of the inning, CCS could only muster one base runner in the fourth inning. Minden scored four runs in the fourth to make the score 1-10 when time ran out.
    Hill pitched a complete game for CCS, striking out five and giving up three walks, while allowing eight hits.
Doubleheader with Scottsbluff
    CCS hosted Class B Scottsbluff for a double header Saturday.
    Markee had the lone hit in the first game, a 0-21 loss. Hill threw a complete game, striking out one, walking five and giving up 14 hits.
    Markenna Terryberry doubled and Johnson singled in the second inning of the second game. Both scored in the 2-21 loss.
    Chavira walked seven and gave up 15 hits.
Up next
    CCS has a busy week ahead. The Longhorns played a doubleheader against Holyoke, Colorado Tuesday.
    Thursday the team will head east for a doubleheader rematch against Southern Valley/Alma.
    Friday at 4 p.m. CCS will play a JV/varsity doubleheader against Perry, Oklahoma in Imperial.