Chatham Softball Loses Game to Jefferson, Leader to Injury

The Chatham softball team fought the elements and injuries in addition to ots opponents in their 6-5 loss to Jefferson High School on Friday in Chatham.

The turning point of the contest was in the top of the seventh inning when defensive errors cost the Cougars the game. After Amanda Fazio allowed a hit to the first batter, she would retire the next two batters in order. A throwing error from third baseman Jenna Ioffredo would allow a run to score, and a Jade Blanchard single led Jefferson to victory.

"Our infield needs to play better," said Chatham Head Coach Alexis Davies. The Cougars would commit five errors in the game which lead to five unearned runs off of Fazio. This could be attributed to the weather which was cold and rainy and led to a twenty minute delay.

"The rain is distracting and makes it tough to grip the ball," said Fazio.                

The scoring started early for the Cougars. After Alex St. Romain was hit by a pitch, Kelly Winans would drive in pinch runner Elke Luria to give the Cougars the early lead.  Jefferson would answer in the third on a two run single after two errors from the Cougars.

Chatham would answer in the bottom of the third with a clutch two out, two-run single from Fazio.            

After having no outs and runners at second and third, Caroline Murphy drove in the only other run for the Cougars in the bottom of the fifth inning and left the door open for a Jefferson comeback. After another Cougar error allowed for a Jefferson batter to reach third, Fazio would uncharacteristically walk the next hitter.  The Jefferson offense would make her pay, getting a two-run game tying double. The Falcons would use that momentum to propel them to victory.

Perhaps the biggest loss for the Cougars was the loss for up to five games of star catcher Alex St. Romain, who left the game in the first inning after being hit by a pitch.

A clearly shaken St. Romain was taken to a nearby hospital for X-rays which were negative.

"When you lose your best player you lose emotion," said Davies. "It's a significant emotional blow to lose Alex."

Davies said, however, that she felt that "after a night to think about it, we'll be OK."