LINDEN — North Montgomery softball’s offense wasn’t able to muster much until it was too late on Friday as the Chargers fell 9-2 to the Covington Trojans. Coming into the sixth inning, North Montgomery had tallied just two hits and missed multiple chances to get on the board. In the bottom of the first inning the Chargers had runners on first and third with just one out as they looked poised to score the games first run. However Skyley Cloncs was thrown out attempting to come home then Piper Ramey was also thrown out trying to take third base and just like that the Chargers were left with a zero in the run column.
“We talked about with the girls that we have to be prepared to start the game before it starts,” Charger coach Rob Earley said. “After our base-running blunder in the first inning we couldn’t do anything for the next three to four innings. You have to be able to put the ball in play and we struck out looking five times. That’s unacceptable and it’s a little deflating for the pitcher too when kept making mistakes in the field and there wasn’t anyone helping her out.”
Piper Ramey was one of the lone bright spots for the Chargers in the loss to the Trojans. She collected a pair of hits and one of the two North Montgomery RBI’s. On the mound she struck out 12 Trojans in seven innings of work while giving up eight hits and six earned runs.
North Montgomery (1-7) mistakes in the field have continued to cost them in the early part of the season. In total the Chargers have 37 errors in their eight games (4.6 per game) including six in the loss to the Trojans.
“We were really locked in at practice last night and it was probably our most strenuous practice of the season” Earley said. “We looked ready and I though they would be ready for tonight, but we have to learn how to be ready for games and not just practices. We did have a last second injury at second base before the game so that caused some issues for us, but it wasn’t the only issue we had.”
The Trojans (4-4) were led offensively by senior Emily Holycross who was 3-4 at the plate with two RBI’s. Briley Peyton also drove in a pair and picked up the win on the mound going the distance. She struck out 10 Chargers and surrendered just six hits (four the last two innings) in the Trojan win. Ramey cruised through the first time through the batting order against the Trojans, but once the second and third times started coming up, that’s when Covington started to square up some hits and put some runs on the board.
“She (Ramey) did an excellent job I thought of keeping us off balance in the beginning,” Trojan’s coach Ryan Sowers said. “That first time through the lineup was really difficult for us, but we were able to start to put some pressure on their defense and make some things happen. What I like about this team is we’re starting to see what we’re going to get from certain girls in certain situations.”
The senior leadership of Peyton on the mound plus Holycross at the plate allowed the Trojans to be able to work through the ladder innings when the Chargers started to find their offense.
“That’s where that senior leadership comes in to play and I thought Briley pitched a great game on the mound,” Bowers said. “Emily did a great job at the plate tonight and when she’s or anyone is able to go out there and square a ball up, that gives a shock wave of confidence through your entire dugout.”
North Montgomery will look to rebound from the loss quickly but the challenge doesn’t get any easier as they will travel to Southmont tomorrow afternoon for their first county matchup of the season. The Mounties come in winners of three straight and a record of 4-2 overall. Southmont has scored double-digit runs in that three-game winning streak so Earley knows it’ll be another tough test for his team.
“We talked about even before our first practice of the season that our goal was to win county,” Earley said. “If that’s to happen, South is the first team we have to take care of and it will be a good challenge tomorrow.”
First pitch between the Mounties and Chargers is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Southmont.
