July 28, 2024

Creston clips Chariton 2-1

By CHEYENNE ROCHE
Avery Staver catches a fly ball Monday against the Chargers. Her out-of-the-park catch robbed Chariton a game-tying run in the seventh inning.

Avery Staver catches a fly ball Monday against the Chargers while teammate Jersey Foote covers behind. Staver's out-of-the-park catch robbed Chariton a game-tying run in the seventh inning. (CNA photo by CHEYENNE ROCHE)

There was a lot of action packed into a short varsity matchup between Creston and Chariton Monday night as the Panthers took a 2-1 win.

Leadoff batter Ava Adamson got the Panthers rolling, hitting a triple out of the gate. Avery Staver drove in the run with a sacrifice fly.

Ava Adamson slides safely into third base for a triple to open the game.

Ava Adamson slides safely into third base for a triple to open the game. (CNA photo by CHEYENNE ROCHE)

From there, both teams struggled offensively as the defenses shut plays down. In the second inning with one out and a Chariton runner on first base, Hailee Smith hit a line drive to the gap between second and third. Panther third baseman Evy Marlin made the impressive catch and threw to first where Kennedy Strider got the runner out on the no-tag. The double play ended the inning in three batters.

First baseman Kennedy Strider gets the out at first on a double play.

First baseman Kennedy Strider gets the out at first on a double play. (CNA photo by CHEYENNE ROCHE)

Creston pitcher Taryn Fredrickson allowed only one run in seven innings, striking out four batters.

Pitcher Taryn Fredrickson, right, celebrates with third baseman Evy Marlin on her impressive double play in the second inning.

Pitcher Taryn Fredrickson, right, celebrates with third baseman Evy Marlin on her impressive double play in the second inning. (CNA photo by CHEYENNE ROCHE)

Junior Jersey Foote led off in the fourth inning with a solo homer, her 11th of the season and 23rd all time. She moves into second place for single-season and career home runs, breaking ties with Haylee LaMasters (22, 10) and Nevaeh Randall’s junior season (10). Randall is the career leader with 47 and single-season leader with 21.

Snook responded with a fifth-inning homer to bring the Chargers within one. That one seemed to come in the top of the seventh inning as freshman Mallory Willis knocked a ball out of the park, but Staver in left field wasn’t content to let the Chargers score. Leaping up and stretching over the top of the fence, Staver fielded the ball, bringing it back in bounds and robbing the Chargers of a game-tying hit. It was one of four balls Staver fielded for outs.

The Panthers finished their regular season last night against Clarke. Scores were not available at press time. The Panthers host Indianola in the first round of regionals Thursday.

Cheyenne Roche

CHEYENNE ROCHE

Originally from Wisconsin, Cheyenne has a journalism and political science degree from UW-Eau Claire and a passion for reading and learning. She lives in Creston with her husband and their two little dogs.