REGION 1D SOFTBALL: Defending champs Eastside Spartans take care of business in semifinal win over Chilhowie (copy)
Eastside's Abby Ward scores a run for the Spartans as Chilhowie catcher Payton Hester dives for the tag.
Chilhowie's Madi Preston swings for a hit against Eastside.
Chilhowie stands around home plate to celebrate with teammate Anna Ramirez after her home run.
Chilhowie's Emmaline Dowell throws a pitch against Eastside in the Region 1D Semifinals.
EMORY, Va. – The softball team at Eastside High School appears destined for another June boon.
Senior Emma Sartin pitched a two-hitter and also produced two hits at the plate on Monday for the Spartans in a 6-1 victory over the Chilhowie Warriors in the semifinals of the Region 1D tournament at Emory & Henry University.
Eastside (20-5) goes for its third straight regional title on Wednesday at 4 p.m. against the Honaker Tigers. The defending VHSL Class 1 champs also booked a return trip to the state tourney.
For a team that’s been there and done that, experience matters.
The Spartans were locked and loaded on Monday as they have now prevailed in eight straight regional tournament games.
“When you have Emma and Haley Frazier and Lexi [Bond] as your leaders – those seniors will be going to the state for the fourth time now,” said Eastside coach Suzi Atwood. “They are sort of taking over this group of freshmen and sophomores and helping them out.”
Sartin certainly showed the youngers how it’s done with yet another sterling performance.
Keep in mind, Chilhowie (20-4) had scored 74 runs over the course of its previous six games.
“Emma was dealing today against a good hitting team,” Atwood said. “I was really pleased. … When you have Emma leading off and on the mound, she controls a lot.”
Madi Preston’s first-inning single and a no-doubt solo homer run off the bat of Anna Ramirez in the fifth accounted for Chilhowie’s only hits. Sartin issued just one walk.
The clout by Ramirez trimmed Eastside’s advantage to 3-1 and gave the Warriors a glimmer of hope, but Sartin wasn’t rattled.
“It was honestly just one [run],” Sartin said. “So as long as I could brush that away and throw it in the back of my mind, it would be OK.”
Sartin got some help from third baseman Mallory Durham.
“That’s ESPN,” Sartin said of her teammate. “That’s what we call her, because she makes such good plays.”
If SportsCenter had shown highlights of Monday’s game, Durham would have definitely got some airtime. She had an RBI single in the third inning and a two-run single in the sixth.
“We came out really pumped and focused,” Durham said.
Along with her hitting acumen, Durham holds down the hot corner.
“She’s been swinging very well and her defense is stellar,” Atwood said.
Sartin’s pitching prowess motivates Durham and her teammates.
“She’s a great pitcher and we have to help her out,” Durham said.
Avery Ward scored two runs for Eastside.
The Spartans put the game away by scoring thrice with two outs in the sixth inning.
Chilhowie senior pitcher Emmaline Dowell battled in her final game for the Hogoheegee District regular-season champions.
“Tough draw,” said Chilhowie coach John Sabo. “That pitcher – I figured that riseball of hers was going to get us.”
The Spartans are legit.
“Daggone right,” Sabo said. “They’re a good team.”
Eastside turns its attention to Honaker (15-7), which advanced with an 11-1 win over Rye Cove in Monday’s other semifinal.
The Tigers are averaging 9.5 runs over their last four games.
“They’re the hottest team around right now,” Atwood said. “I’m sure they’ll come ready to play on Wednesday. We better be ready to play too.”
Sartin and her pals certainly know what it takes this time of year.
“We want to bring as much energy as we can,” she said.
Chilhowie 000 010 0—1 2 2
Eastside 012 003 x—6 7 0
Dowell and Hester. E. Sartin and VanWinkle. W – E. Sartin. L – Dowell (14-3). HR – Ramirez (C), 5th, none on.
