BAKER — Crestview High School pitcher Taylor Rolison finished what she started in Monday’s softball game between the Bulldogs and Baker School.
In between Rolison’s two appearances in the circle things got interesting. But in the end the Class 7A Bulldogs were able to come out on top with a 7-6 win over the Class 1A Gators.
“Woo, they came to play” Crestview Coach Holly Gibson said after her team escaped with the win. “Those girls play with my girls.
“It was a big game. It was good to see that we found a way to win in the seventh inning. This was a big win for us because we continued to fight.”
Rolison started the game and through two innings allowed just one run and struck out five Baker batters.
Crestview (8-4) was up 2-1 when Rolison traded positions with shortstop Caitlyn Black in the bottom of the third inning.
Rolison got things started for the Bulldogs in the top of the first when she walked, stole second and scored as Hanna Dukes was safe on a Gator error. Crestview, as would be the case throughout the game, had a chance to add to the lead, but was unable to push another score across as the Baker defense stiffened.
Crestview made it 2-0 in the second when Taylor Bumgardner single, stole second and scored on a base hit off the bat of Savannah Mason.
Baker got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second when Jessica Black walked, moved to second on a sacrifice by Gracie Edge and scored as Jenna Elmer was safe on an error.
Caitlyn Black took the circle for the Bulldogs in the third so Rolison could rest a sore throwing arm. Things went fine for the Bulldogs for three innings as Black allowed just one run in the fifth inning.
The Gators scored as Bethany McCranie singled and later scored on a base hit by Ashley Black,
By that time the Bulldogs had picked up scores from Hailey Meredith in the fourth inning and Dukes in the fifth inning.
The wheels came off for Caitlyn Black and the Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth when Baker sent nine batters to the plate and saw Edge, Elmer, McCranie and Shelby Sloan score.
The Gators were threatening to score even more with two out when Gibson turned back to Rolison to end the Baker threat.
“I could tell in the second inning her (Rolison’s) arm was hurting her so I put Caitlyn in,” Gibson said. “When they started hitting her I just had to bring Taylor back. I asked her if she thought she could do it (finish the game) and she said, ‘Yes, I can do it.’”
Crestview’s offense answered the challenge in the top of the seventh scoring three times to bring home the win. The Bulldogs benefited from a pair of Baker physical errors and one mental error that allowed a run to score from third when there was a force out at home plate.
Rolison finished the game with eight strikeouts in just 3 1/3 innings of work while allowing one hit.
Sloan took the loss for the Gators. She gave up eight hits and fanned three Bulldog batters.
“If you want to play the ‘If game’ there are a lot of situations we can look at,” Baker Coach John Carlisle said. “Disappointed? Yes, but in the big scheme of things I’m pleased with the way we competed on some things.
“You have to give Rolson her due. She’s a quality pitcher.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview's softball team slips past Baker