FORTWALTON BEACH — Crestview High School freshman pitcher Taylor Rolison flirted with perfection Monday as the Bulldogs opened the District 2-6A softball tournament.
Rolison walked just one batter on the way to the first no-hitter of her high school career to lead Crestview to a 4-0 win over Choctawhatchee.
Photo gallery>>> Rolison leads Bulldogs past Choctaw in tournament opener.
Rolison dominated the Indians striking out five batters and allowing just two balls out of the infield.
“I didn’t realize I was throwing a no-hitter,” Rolison said. “I was just throwing a normal game.
“It makes me happy and proud for my team.”
Choctaw’s lone base runner – Sydney Parker, who drew a one-out walk in the fourth inning, was thrown out trying to get back to first base after Macie Gray lined out to Amber Bell at second base.
“Taylor’s too young to be scared of anything,” Bulldog coach Kathy Combest said. “She just goes out there and throws the ball.”
Crestview scored what turned out to be the winning run in the bottom of the second inning.
Bulldog catcher Kelsea Dardon singled up the middle to lead off the inning and was replaced on the bases by courtesy runner Bailey Estep.
Estep moved to third base as Parys Alexander was safe on a Choctaw error. Estep scored on a sacrifice fly by Ragan Sowell.
The Bulldogs (17-9) took advantage of a pair of Indian errors in the fourth inning to plate two runs.
Alexander, who walked and Megan Clark, who reached on an error, scored as Kayla Kelch reached on an error.
Crestview scored its final run in the sixth inning as Kylene Day was safe on an error and later scored on a Kelch base hit.
On the day the Bulldogs had just five hits, but the Indians committed seven errors to go along with five walks and one hit batter by Indian pitcher Jelly Johnson.
Dardon had two hits to lead the Bulldog attack. Kelch, Rolison and Molly Woodward had the other Crestview hits.
“We just didn’t hit the ball crisp enough,” Combest said. “It seems like it was dead or flat or something.”
Choctaw coach Grant Keen was quick to credit Rolison for her outstanding performance.
“She pitched a really good game,” he said. “I know she’s young, but she’s a really good pitcher and she’s got a big future ahead of her.
“We had a few errors that cost three of the (Bulldog) runs, but our offense just didn’t show up today. I couldn’t get runners on base, and if I can’t get runners on I can’t produce runs.”
Choctaw finishes the season with a 2-22 record.
•Crestview 15, Pine Forest 0: The Crestview High School softball team closed out the regular season with a 15-0 win over Pine Forest on Friday. The game was called after three innings on the mercy rule.
Kristin Bufkin was the winning pitcher for the Bulldogs in spinning the shutout.
Molly Woodward and Kayla Kelch led the Crestview offensive attack with 3-for-3 performances. Woodward had a triple and a double. Kelch had a triple and two singles.
Bufkin, Megan Clark and Kelsea Dardon were all 2-for-2. Dardon had a two-run homer.
Ragan Sowell also had two hits for Crestview.
Randy Dickson is the Crestview News Bulletin’s sports editor. Email him at randyd@crestviewbulletin.com, tweet him @BigRandle, or call 682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Rolison spins no-hitter for Bulldogs (photo gallery)