Niceville overcomes slow start to slam Crestview

CRESTVIEW — A slow start didn’t keep the Niceville softball team from a big finish Wednesday as the Eagles beat Crestview 11-1 in District 2-5A play.

Maybe it was the delay of a day due to the cold and rainy weather on Tuesday. Or maybe Crestview pitcher Elizabeth Bass had something to do with it, but the Eagles (6-0, 2-0) trailed 1-0 heading into the third inning.

Through the course of the next three frames, Niceville put up 11 runs as the game was called after five.

But at least for a little while, it looked as if Crestview (1-5, 0-2) might play the role of spoiler. The Bulldogs struck first when Courtney Adams led off the home half of the first with a base hit and scored on a Morgan Goshorn double.

After giving up a leadoff single to Stephanie Hartness to open the game, Bass settled into a rhythm, retiring the next six batters. But in the third, things fell apart for the Bulldogs as the Eagles seemed to capitalize on every Bulldog mistake.

Kaylan Davis led off the inning by drawing a walk from Bass. Carrie Laird was next and reached on an error as the floodgates opened up.

Hartness singled to load the bases and the next four batters — Karen Starnes, Kelly Hensley, Megan Balding and Shannon Brinkley — drove in runs before a Niceville batter was retired.

After sending nine hitters to the plate and scoring five runs in the third inning, the Eagles sent eight batters to the plate and scored three runs in the fourth.

Pinch-hitter Haley Early had a two-run homer in the fifth as Niceville scored three more runs to put the finishing touches on the win.

The Bulldogs were able to get some hits off Eagle pitcher Jessa Watts, but after the first inning they were unable to connect with runners in scoring position.  Sara Cadenhead and Goshorn each had a pair of hits for the Bulldogs. Adams and Hannah Day also had hits for Crestview.

Hartness had three hits and scored two runs for the Eagles. Brinkley had two hits and drove in two runs. Laird reached base twice and scored two runs.