The Aubrey Lady Chaps softball team continued their roll through the postseason, sweeping the Carthage Lady Bulldogs two games to none in a best-of-three series May 9.
The Lady Chaps controlled both sides of the ball and dismantled their opponent 9-4 in Game 1 and 12-2 in Game 2, punching their ticket to the regional finals.
“Obviously, there are some things we have to get better at, but we’re pretty pleased overall,” Aubrey head softball coach James Ramsey said. “The bats were alive when we needed them to be, and we had some big hits, timely hits. Mya [Cherry] and our catcher, [Abby Lynch-Buxton], did a great job both days. We didn't get a lot of strikeouts, but we hit our spots, and the defense did the job behind her.”
The Lady Chaps scored first behind a line drive single from second baseman Molly Reid that brought in one run, putting Aubrey up 1-0 in the first inning.
Aubrey would add three more runs in the bottom of the third inning, with shortstop Tamia Cherry getting home after a wild pitch got away from Carthage’s catcher.
The Lady Chaps celebrate their series win over Carthage by taking a group selfie with Aubrey High School Assistant Principal Duane Flowers on May 9.
Martin Edwards/ The Post-Signal
The scoring run was capped by a two-run homer by Mya, extending Aubrey’s lead to 4-0.
The Lady Bulldogs got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth with a fly ball single from first baseman Anna Grace Bagley, making it a three-score game.
The Lady Chaps would respond with five runs in the fourth and fifth innings, pushing the lead to 8.
Carthage would score three in the seventh inning, but Aubrey held on to win 9-4.
It was all Aubrey in Game 2, with the Lady Chaps outscoring their opponent 7-2 in the first four innings.
The Lady Chaps wrapped up the win and the series with a five-run burst in the sixth inning fueled by a pair of doubles from Mya and Lynch-Buxton, taking the victory 12-2.
The series marked the sixth and seventh times in a row that Aubrey has held their opponent to four runs or less in a game, going back to the regular season.
“We spend a lot of time working on defense in practice and [emphasize] how important it is,” Ramsey said. 'We preach about making all the routine plays. If we make a special play, that's great, but don't give the other team extra outs.”
One reason for the Lady Chaps' strong defensive play is the return of Tamia, who returned to the field toward the end of the regular season after suffering an elbow injury during the preseason.
“Things have been a little slow coming back from the injury, but we’re progressing slowly but surely,” she said. “… I was out for a while, so it feels good to be back with my teammates.”
Lynch-Buxton led Aubrey from the batters’ box in the closeout game, going three for four and driving in four runs.
“Leading off, I really have to set a tone and start us off strong,” she said. “My job is just to get on base, and I know everybody behind me is going to hit me, and especially having Tamia, Molly [Reid], Carmen [Alexander] and Maya batting after me.”
Ramsey said the postgame message to the Lady Chaps focused on appreciating the moment.
“We want to celebrate this one,” he said. “… We’ll enjoy this one tonight, and then I’m going to start looking at who we’re going to play next and put together a game plan from there.”
The Lady Chaps won Game 1 in extra innings, 6-5, on Tuesday against the Canton Lady Eagles and were scheduled for Game 2 on Thursday and Game 3 at noon Saturday, if necessary.
All games will be played at Community High School in Nevada.
Final results were not available by press time.
