Kahok softball picks up conference win over West
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By Mark Jurgena
A walk-off single to center by Faith Fairchild scored Katie Bardwell from third and lifted Collinsville to a 3-2 victory over Belleville West in eight innings on April 27 in Collinsville.
“As we head into the back half of the conference, we’ve talked a lot about our growth as a team,” said CHS coach Jess Schmittling. “We looked at the box score of the last game against West so we could discuss where we fell short last time and where we performed well. We were in the game against West in the first round until about the fourth inning. We simply didn’t have the endurance as a team to last seven competitive innings. Not only were we in it for every pitch this time around, but we did it for eight innings! This team is fun to watch grow and compete because they do it with such team camaraderie and joy for one another as well which was so evident in the walk-off celebration at the end of the game!”
Bardwell got the rally started by smacking a one out triple to left field on the first pitch she saw. Fairchild followed by connecting on a 1-1 pitch to walk off the Maroons.
But CHS had to battle just to get to that point.
West took the lead on two occasions during the contest but each time the Kahoks fought back.
After the Maroons took a 1-0 lead in the first, CHS answered back with a run of their own.
Kahok Lexi Rafalowski reached base on a bunt and stole second. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Emma Hylton. Rafalowski came home on a ground out by Bailey Demick to tie the game 1-1.
The game remained scoreless until the sixth when West put up a run in the top half to take a 2-1 lead before the Kahoks answered back in the bottom half.
Demick led off with a double to left and moved to third on Fairchild’s ground out. With two outs Addie Stone singled to center to knot the score at 2-2.
West threatened in the top of the eighth by getting a runner at first and second with two outs, but CHS pitcher Marissa Thomas got a popup to Fairchild to end the threat setting up the walk-off win.
“Every game has been a team effort this year which makes the wins even more special for this young team knowing that they are doing it with teammates who’ve been in the fight with them all along,” said Schmittling. “Marissa Thomas worked hard every pitch on the mound, our defense was stellar stranding 13 baserunners, and our offense came in clutch to tie up the game twice and ultimately walk it off in the bottom of the 8th.
“Team effort leads to fun wins!”
For the game, Rafalowski had a pair of hits while Demick, Bardwell, Fairchild, and Stone had one each.
Thomas threw a complete game in the circle. She gave up one earned run while walking three and striking out seven.
Edwardsville 13 CHS 0 (5 innings)
On April 25 Collinsville was no match for Edwardsville as they fell to the Tigers in SWC play.
Collinsville collected two hits, one each from Rafalowski and Thomas, and committed four errors on defense.
Thomas was in the circle tossing another complete game.
Upcoming Schedule
CHS played Alton on Tuesday however results were unavailable at press time.
Today they play at East St. Louis and next Tuesday they host Belleville East.
