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The Callaway softball team saw its 2024 season come to a close on Thursday in the first round of the 2A state playoffs as the Cavaliers lost a doubleheader against Pike County.

 

GAME ONE: 

Pike County – 9

Callaway – 4

 

Callaway lost its opening game of the playoffs, falling to region foe Pike County 9-4 leaving the Cavaliers facing elimination in game two. 

In a strange twist of fate, the two Region 2-2A teams face off in the first round of the state playoffs after matching up three times during the regular season. 

The Cavaliers drew first blood in the top of the first inning. Savannah Rice got the Cavaliers on the board with a one-run single. Callaway left runners stranded on first and second as the team could not extend its lead. 

That is where the game would stay until the bottom of the third. Callaway got two quick outs to start the inning, but back-to-back doubles tied the game before a two-run homer gave the Pirates their first lead of the game.

The Cavaliers had a chance to extend their lead in the second inning, but left runners stranded on first and third and were made to pay that following inning for all the runners left on base early in the contest. 

The Pirates completely broke the game open in the fourth inning, scoring five runs to take a commanding 9-1 lead.

The Cavaliers eventually got on the board again with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Ella Kelly hit a one-run double before Rice hit a two-run double to cut the Pirate lead to five runs.

Mackenzie Toney got the start in the circle and pitched 3 ⅓ innings for the Cavaliers. Layla Elkins pitched in relief of Toney, throwing the final 2 and ⅓ innings, not allowing a single hit which allowed Callaway to attempt a late rally even if it fell short. 

Rice led the Callaway offense, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Kelly and Madison Kemp also had two hits apiece while Kaitlyn Williams finished with one. 

 

GAME TWO: 

Pike County – 12

Callaway – 3

 

The Cavaliers would find that same competitive edge in game two until Pike County used a late surge to run away from the road team. The Pirates scored three runs in the top of the first, but Callaway would eventually respond, tying the game up with three runs in the second inning. 

Lakyn Gatens hit a ground ball and reached on an error to drive in the first run of the game for Callaway. Karlie Walker stole home and Mikayla Blankenship hit a onerun single to level the game up and bring the Callaway dugout to life. The Cavaliers nearly took the lead, but left Blankenship stranded on third base to end the inning as well as an additional runner on first base. 

The Pirates would immediately recapture the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Pike County would tack on two more runs in the fifth to extend the lead out to 7-3. 

The Pirates were able to keep the bats rolling from there, scoring five runs in the sixth inning to completely blow the game open.

Bella Cleveland got the start in the circle and pitched the majority of the game before making way for Elkins.

Hits were hard to come by for the Cavaliers in game two, mustering just three in total. Williams, Rice and Blankenship all had one apiece. 

Callaway went 0-5 against Pike County this season. 

The Callaway softball team finished its first season under head coach Dalton Reed with a record of 11-19 and finished third in Region 2-2A. 

The Cavaliers will say goodbye to third baseman/catcher Karlie Walker, outfielder Kaitlyn Williams and shortstop Madison Kemp. The senior trio were all starters on the team for the last three seasons. Callaway will welcome in a talented freshman class next season as the team looks to continue to progress under their not-so-new head coach.