Chesnie Patton leads Crestview past Mapleton on eve of tournament

NANKIN — Wielding a nasty change-up pitch in the circle as well as a lethal bat, Crestview High School’s Chesnie Patton was getting it done to help her Lady Cougar softball team earn an 8-6 win over Mapleton in Firelands Conference play on Saturday,

Just a sophomore, Patton provided an early spark at the plate for Crestview in the first inning. Right after teammate Sophia Durban led the game off with a single, Patton jumped on a first-pitch offering from Mapleton’s Audrey Hellickson and sent the ball soaring deep over the center field fence to give Crestview a 2-0 lead.

“I tell you that kid is seeing the ball, she is a big strong kid who works like crazy,” said Crestview coach Scott Durbin. “The biggest problem with Chesnie is you’ve got to hold her back sometimes. And that’s the hardest part with her. But she is seeing the ball right now like nothing I can ever remember. She’s just killing it.”

Pattion added an RBI-double in the top of the fourth inning to drive home Sophia Durbin once again as she also doubled. Sophia Durbin ended the day with a double and a pair of singles with three runs scored while Kalee Hamman also doubled, single and drove in a trio of runs. Also, Makena Tacket doubled, with McKenzie Tucker, Maddeline Grant and Addi Kline all adding singles.

“We are hitting the ball like crazy, and I’m so proud of all of them,” Patton said of her teammates. “They’ve put in the work for sure. “

Patton gave up six runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out five. But she got out of a couple of jams by shutting down the Lady Mounties with her change-up.

“Her change-up is definitely her out pitch, she sets it up well, and she’s going to go hard at you,” coach Durbin said. “And we don’t waste many pitches with her, she goes right at it.”

“My change-up has always been something I can count on, almost all of the time,” Patton said. “And thankfully, it was working today. It was working in our last game against Mapleton, but not as much as today. I’m just thankful I was accurate today.”

Patton also credited her batterymate, PJ Endicott for her work behind the dish.

“I couldn’t ask for anyone better,” Patton said of Endicott’s catching expertise. “I know if I throw a ball in the dirt, she’s got my back. And when someone’s stealing, she’ll get them out.”

Mapleton battled the entire game, going ahead 3-2 when they scored a pair of runs in the second inning after scoring one run in the first inning. Back-to-back RBI singles by Maddie Bates and Hellickson gave the Mounties the lead in the second.

Mapleton also got a couple of big hits by Caitlyn Vermilya and Emilee Dennison. In the third inning, Vermilya came up with an RBI-single to tie the game at 4-4. In the seventh inning with Crestview holding a 8-4 lead, Dennison stroked a single to left to score a pair of runs.

Coach Durbin on two occasions chose to intentionally walk Mapleton’s Holly Earl and Heidi Earl to try and avert big innings by the Mounties.

“To them I hope it’s an honor that somebody respects them that much, and the batters below them should take it as a challenge they can make it happen,” said Mapleton coach Dan Sanders. “Emilee came up with a big hit, Caitlyn Vermilya came up with one, and they are the two girls right after the Earl’s. If we can make it hurt after that, we’ll be okay.”

Holly Earl doubled and singled for Mapleton, and Hellickson and Bates each had a pair of singles.

“There’s not an easy out in their lineup, and we found that out this week. The Earl twins are outstanding, you can’t find a place to get the ball by them,” coach Durbin said. “And the rest of that lineup just scratches, claws and fights at every pitch. They’re going to be putting balls in play. Today, defensively we were fantastic, and Chesnie just battles in the circle.”

Hellickson suffered the loss in the circle for Mapleton, going the first 5⅔ innings, yielding seven runs on 11 hits, walking four. Dennison finished up, giving up one run with a pair of walks.

“Both teams hit the ball really well, they put in play, they made the defense make the plays they should make,” Sanders said. “When you put the ball in play, good things happen, and both of these teams do that really well.

“Audrey threw really well and she came in cold. The last time she’s really pitched in live action was the MVD Tournament, and then we kind of got away from it," Sanders added. “And it’s tough to get that No. 3 pitcher in but with the week we have coming up, we play every single day this coming week and possibly two tournament games, so I want to make sure all three of them will be able to go if need be.”

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Softball: Chesnie Patton leads Crestview past Mapleton