FAYETTEVILLE — Pottsville took advantage of error-prone Nashville to build a big lead early on its way to an 11-3 victory Friday night in the Class 4A state softball championship at Bogle Park.
The state championship is the first for Pottsville’s softball program.
“We’re on top of the world right now,” Pottsville Coach Greg Jones said. “To beat a quality team like Nashville is big, but to beat them for a state championship is huge.”
The Lady Apaches didn’t waste much time in getting the lead and staying in front.
With one out, Halley Cain singled before Skylar Campbell was hit by a pitch. Both scored when Sophia Hampton reached on a twobase error. Hampton came around on another Nashville error.
In the top of the second, Jordan Wright led off with a walk and scored on Skylar Campbell’s two-out single to make it 4-0.
Pottsville finished with 11 hits but was helped by nine Nashville errors.
“We got a couple of good bounces that went our way,” Jones said. “They kicked it around a little bit and we used our speed to take advantage of it. Got some good hits in every innings and just put up some runs, and put pressure on them. We wanted to come out and win every inning and I feel like we did.”
Kayli Pennington and Hanamarie Savage started the third inning with backto-back singles but only Pennington was able to score after two Nashville errors for a 5-0 lead.
The Lady Apaches pushed their lead to 8-0 in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs on a hit and two more Nashville errors.
The Scrapperettes finally scored in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jules Futrell was hit by a pitch before Brookelyen Cox walked.
After a fly out, Alyssa Harrison ripped a single to left that scored Futrell. Hanna White reached on a fielder’s choice to score Cox to make it 8-2.
Each team scored a run in the fifth inning with Pottsville getting its ninth run on an RBI single by Hampton.
A bases-loaded walk to Madi Miller in the bottom of the inning got Nashville within 9-3.
The Lady Apaches scored two runs on two hits and a sacrifice fly by Aspen Campbell in the top of the seventh to make it 11-3.
Hampton finished with 3 hits — including 2 doubles — 3 runs and an RBI, to lead Pottsville.
Cain and Skylar Campbell added two hits apiece for Pottsville.
MVP Aspen Campbell was the winning pitcher. She held Nashville to five hits while striking out five. Pottsville’s defense committed one error.
“Aspen has done well all season and had a great state tournament,” Jones said. “She’s consistently been hitting her spots and our defense has played great behind her all the way through the state tournament.
Anna Kesterson led Nashville with two hits.
POTTSVILLE 11, NASHVILLE 3