The Chester County Junior High softball team came up one run shy in an 8–7 loss to Hardin County Middle School on Thursday night.
The Eaglettes started fast, taking a 4–2 lead in the first inning. Makenah Carnell drove in two runs with a single, Lizzie Patterson added an RBI hit, and another run scored on a defensive miscue. Chester County extended the margin in the second when Karleigh Beth White singled home a run and Mykayla Stoots doubled down the left-field line to bring in another, making it 6–2.
Hardin County rallied in the fourth to move ahead, and despite late chances, Chester County couldn’t push across the tying run.
Natalie Hurst started in the circle for the Eaglettes, striking out two over two innings. Stella Pickens followed in relief, adding two strikeouts of her own. At the plate, White and Stoots each collected two hits, while White and Carnell drove in two runs apiece.
After the game, head coach Wes Murphy said he was pleased with his team’s effort despite the tough finish. “We hit the ball and played well, but we made some uncharacteristic errors in the field that ended up costing us in the end,” Murphy said. “I was proud of the way our team competed, though, in a close game. Hardin Co. is a good team who we have now split with. We will see them again next weekend in tournament play.”
