Choctaw softball too much for FWB

By RANDY DICKSON

randyd@nwfdailynews.com

FORT WALTON BEACH - A five-week layoff proved too much for the Fort Walton Beach softball team to overcome.

The Vikings, who led rival Choctawhatchee 1-0 when their Feb. 12 game was suspended, had no answers for the host Indians Monday afternoon as the District 1-5A game resumed.

Choctaw scored four unearned runs in the fourth inning and five runs in the sixth to take the 9-1 win.

The Indians (9-5, 7-4) have now won six straight games.

"We have already played them over there (since the game was suspended)," Indian coach Billy Rice said. "We knew we had a chance to get it going, but we had a slow start.

"As soon as we figure out we can hit early we are going to be pretty solid."

Fort Walton Beach (3-9, 3-8) got off to the quick start on Feb. 12. Jessica Erickson drew a walk in the first inning and scored on a Jessica Whidden triple.

When the game resumed in the top of the second, Tavia Tinner, who earlier singled, was on first. But Choctaw pitcher Chantel Dodge struck out the side to end the threat.

"That (the five week suspension of the game) definitely affected our momentum," Viking coach Andrea Gore said. "We came out flat today and it showed.

"I've got a lot of young kids out here playing and we try to prevent the mistakes when we can and move forward when mistakes happen."

The score remained 1-0 until the fourth inning.

Aubrey Claxton and Kiersten Denny walked, sandwiching Shannon Scott reaching base after being hit by a pitch.

Dodge smashed a ball to right that was misplayed by Andrea Sybert, clearing the bases with two out and landing Dodge on third. Dodge then scored on a wild pitch.

The four runs would have been enough, but the Indians weren't finished.

Choctaw sent nine batters to the plate in the sixth and pounded Erickson for five hits and five runs.

Claxton, Scott and Morgan Brazel reached on consecutive base hits to start the inning and load the bases.

Before the damage was done, Dodge had drawn a run-scoring walk, Hannah Renn singled in a run and Nikki Blake cleared the bases with a triple.

Fort Walton Beach travels to Pace today. The Indians are at Tate on Thursday.

Fort Walton Beach     100 000 0- 1 5 1

Choctaw                      000 405 x- 9 9 0

W-Chantel Dodge. L-Jessica Erickson