Chesapeake Tops Northeast, Keeps Unbeaten Start Rolling

It’s been a torrid start to the season for the Chesapeake softball team, which continued its strong March play into April and has an 12-0 record through April 17.

Much of the Cougars’ success has started in the circle, where junior pitcher Haley Downin has been dynamite. Downin has pitched in all of Chesapeake’s victories, including a six-inning no-hitter with 13 strikeouts she hurled against Southern on April 11. In that win over the Bulldogs, Brionna Bowman was 3 for 4 with four RBIs, Sarah Schappert and Abby Muller both had two RBIs, and Jerzie Nutile and Kielee Warner had runs batted in.

PHOTO GALLERY: 4.6.18 Chesapeake vs. Northeast softball

On April 6 against Northeast, Chesapeake took an early lead and held on for a 4-3 win. Downin (a double and a run scored), Tristyn Stewart (one hit, two runs and one RBI), Muller (two RBIs, one hit and one run scored), Nutile (a double), and Charli Smith (base hit) allowed Chesapeake to capitalize on Downin’s pitching performance of two earned runs over seven innings with nine strikeouts. Northeast’s Mallorie Hetzel had two hits while teammates Veronica Hampton (one hit, one run, one RBI), Madison Schelfe (a double, a run scored and an RBI), Christina Jordan (two walks and a run scored) and Melanie Kral (a base hit) all made contributions for the Eagles.

Nutile had home runs on back-to-back days when the Cougars defeated Arundel and Westminster on April 13 and April 14 to move to 11-0.

PHOTO GALLERY: 4.6.18 Chesapeake vs. Northeast softball