HENDERSONVILLE The Hendersonville and Pope John Paul II prep softball teams opened the season against each other on Tuesday evening.
In the end, neither team won.
The Commando Classic contest concluded in a 4-4 tie at Griffin-Crandell Field, after the two teams were tied when the time limit elapsed and following one extra inning (which is all that the tournament stipulations allow until elimination play begins).
“It was a great game,” Hendersonville head coach Jeff Serbin said. “They’re a good team.”
Lady Knight head coach Jody Brothers added, “It was the first day out, and we always tell them, ‘we just want you to compete and see what happens.’ We did that.”
PJP II senior catcher Savannah Lewis singled in junior Alexis Williams in the top of the first inning, but Lady Commando junior Matti Byrd hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the frame.
Pope John Paul II High senior Savannah Lewis swings at a fifth-inning pitch. Lewis singled twice, scored a run and drove in two runs in a 4-4 tie with Hendersonville on Tuesday evening.
With the 75-minute time limit drawing near, the Lady Knights rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth, with Lewis producing a two-out single that drove in Olivia Nivison with the tying run.
Then, sophomore Anna Wantz singled up the middle to give her squad a 4-2 advantage.
“I’m proud of the way our girls competed,” Brothers said.
Hendersonville junior Annsley Kalamon doubled down the third-base line in the bottom of the frame, driving in juniors Ace Hanson and Lexi Revis.
“Matti Byrd came through for us, and Annsley Kalamon came through with a big double,” Serbin said.
Hendersonville High freshman rightfielder Alex Beavers attempts to catch a third-inning fly ball.
Then, Wantz caught a foul pop-up over her shoulder for the second out of the inning and threw to Lewis at home plate, who tagged out junior courtesy runner Morgan Burton to keep the contest tied and force an extra inning.
“It’s good,” Brothers said of being in a close game. “We haven’t even practiced that (late-game situations) yet. We come out here, and all of a sudden, you have to play defense. We ran into all of the situations in the first game against Hendersonville.
“We have experienced girls. That helped with the way the game went.”
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect (placing a runner on second base to start the inning), both teams moved the baserunner to third base with one out in the sixth inning but left her stranded.
“You’re talking about the first game of the year, and we’ve had every situation we’ll see all year,” Serbin said. “We battled and got down twice. We fought.
“We executed. We just didn’t come through with the big hit.”
PJP II senior Alley McDonald – a Southeastern Louisiana University signee – went the distance in the pitcher’s circle, while Lady Commando senior Hannah Thompson – an Austin Peay State University signee – tossed the first five innings before classmate Carley Carlisle – a Columbia State Community College signee – came on to pitch the scoreless sixth.
>> Hendersonville suffered a 2-0 loss to Creek Wood later on Tuesday evening, while the Lady Knights dropped a 6-1 decision to Lebanon.
Reach Craig Harris at charris@mtcngroup.com or at 615-575-7138. Follow him on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.
PJP II 100 030 – 4 6 1
Hendersonville 200 020 – 4 10 1
Alley McDonald and Savannah Lewis; Hannah Thompson, Carley Carlisle (6) and Matti Byrd. Home runs: Hendersonville – Matti Byrd (1).