CA Rebels, Lady Rebels are Area Champs
BY KATIE MCELVY
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — The Chambers Academy Lady Rebels and Rebels both claimed AISA AA Region 1, Area 1 championships weeks before the playoffs begin.
Lady Rebels
The Lady Rebels (9-1) captured the area championship last week by sweeping Springwood School in 15-2, 9-1 and 10-3. Big bats highlighted the first game as Payton Earl, Abigail Downey, Emmalee Jackson and Madison Stanford all doubled while Stanford also tripled. Samantha Lovelace got the win in the circle. Earl struck out 14 batters and only gave up one hit in the second game while the Lady Rebels collected 12 hits.
Allie Paschal, Blakely Allen, Tenley Benefield and Earl all tripled in the final game. Benefield struck out 13 batters to sweep the series. The Lady Rebels rounded out their week with a 6-1 victory over the Hooper Colts. Hooper took an early 1-0 lead, but, after loading up the bases, Paschal and Benefield both hit deep balls to left field to send in three runs. Paschal launched another one to left field in the seventh, and Stanford added the score after tagging up. Benefield capped off the game with a two-run homer to give Chambers the win. Samantha Lovelace got the win in the circle, striking out four.
Rebels
After sweeping both Springwood and Success Unlimited, the Rebels (5-4) had to win two of three over Southern Prep to take the area title. However, Southern Prep forfeited their season, giving Chambers the championship.
The Rebels faced Hooper later in the week. Chambers capitalized on Colt errors to earn a run in the first, but Hooper tied it up in the bottom of the inning. The Rebels took a 2-1 lead in the second, but Hooper fought, back scoring three in the third. Chambers responded with a big fourth inning. Trip O’Donnell, Hunter Andrews and Sam Smith all singled. Peyton Yerta and Eli Whorton both hit RBIs to put Chambers up 6-4. Hooper took back the lead in the bottom of the inning, and the Rebels failed to drive in any runs, dropping the game 7-6. Hunter Andrews and Drew Sheppard both took the mound for the Rebels, striking out four batters each.
