Fairfield Lady Lions clinch 24th SHAC championship

The Fairfield Lady Lions took the field Friday evening in new uniform jerseys, seeking their 24th Southern Hills Athletic Conference title and seventh consecutive championship as they faced the North Adams Lady Devils. The Fairfield Lady Lions (12-7, 9-3 SHAC) did not disappoint their fans, as they defeated the North Adams Lady Devils (4-12, 3-9 SHAC), 11-1 in six innings.

Katelyn Chambliss was brilliant in circle, notching her eighth win of the season. Chambliss scattered four hits, allowed a single earned run and had no walks, while striking out eight batters.

After a slow start, the Fairfield Lady Lion offense caught fire, pounding out 12 hits to score 11 runs. Sydney Sanders led the offense with three hits (two triples and a single), and Jobey Hattan hit a mammoth home run to lead off a four-run fifth inning. Meanwhile, the Lady Lions played errorless softball for the third consecutive game.
 
North Adams scored a run in the top of the third inning on a double by Carlee Garrison and a single by Karis Tumbleson for a 1-0 lead, but Katelyn Chambliss retired the next 10 consecutive Lady Devil batters, completely shutting down their offense.
 
Fairfield answered with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Sydney Hooper was safe on an infield hit. Rilee Quickle doubled to score Hooper. Hattan was safe on an infield base hit, as Quickle advanced to third base. Sydney Sanders singled to drive in Quickle. Faith Miller grounded out to score Sanders.
 
Fairfield added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on singles by Chambliss and Carly Sanders.
 
The Lady Lions widened their lead to 10-1 with 4 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hattan led off the inning with a mammoth home run over the left field fence. Sydney Sanders tripled, Miller was hit by a pitch and Emmi Vance grounded out to score Sanders.

Chambliss singled to knock in Miller. Gwen Cox entered the game as a courtesy runner for Chambliss. Carly Sanders singled and Addison Bales drew a base on balls. Hooper grounded out to score Cox.
 
Fairfield would end the game early with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hattan was safe on an error to lead off the inning, but was caught stealing. Sydney Sanders stepped to the plate and tripled to deep left field. Miller would walk off the win with a double to left centerfield.
 
Leading hitters for the Fairfield Lady Lions: Hooper (1-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI), Rilee Quickle (1-for-4, double, 1 run, 1 RBI), Jobey Hattan (2-for-4, home run, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Sydney Sanders (3-for-4, 2 triples, 3 runs, 1 RBI), Faith Miller (1-for-3, double, 1 run, 1 RBI), Emmi Vance (0-for-3, 1 RBI), Katelyn Chambliss (2-for-2, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Carly Sanders (2-for-3, double, 1 run) and Addison Bales (0-for-2, 1 RBI).
 
Chambliss (8-5) was the winning pitcher for Fairfield. Her pitching line: six innings, four hits, one run, one earned run, no walks and eight strikeouts.

Carlee Garrison (4-2) suffered the loss for North Adams. Garrison’s pitching line: four innings, eight hits, eight runs, seven earned runs, one walk and three strikeouts. Karis Tumbleson’s pitching line: 1.3 innings, four hits, three runs, three earned runs, two walks and no strikeouts.